Abstract: A system is for controlling a high voltage for x-ray applications. In an embodiment, the system includes a controller including at least one input for a mains input voltage, and one output for outputting a primary-side transformer current; and a distance compensation suited to providing the primary-side transformer current with a determined pulse frequency or a determined pulse length.

Abstract: In a diagnostic imaging system (10), a monitor (50) monitors periodic biological cycles of the subject (14). A trigger point detector (60) detects a time (t1, t2, . . . , tn) of a common, reoccurring reference point (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) in each periodic cycle of the subject (14). A sequence selector (62) selects a sequence (64) of nominal sampling segments (Si, S2, . . . , Sn). An adjustor (70) adjusts duration of each nominal sampling segment (Si, S2, . . . , Sn) to coincide with the times of detected reference points (R1, R2, . . . , Rn). A scaling processor (72) scales each adjusted segment based on a difference in duration between the corresponding nominal (Si, S2, . . . , Sn) and adjusted sampling segments (S?i, S?2, . . . , S?n).

Abstract: A device for locally resolved control of a radiation dose applied with a pulsed particle beam in particle beam therapy, with a processing unit, which is set up to detect continuously a count rate of x-ray quanta measured with a positron emission tomograph and to determine the applied radiation dose from the pattern of the measured count rate, by determining by computation from the measured pattern of the count rate the time intervals, in which an interaction of the particle beam takes place at the application site and by rejecting these time intervals for the determination of the applied radiation dose.

Abstract: An image system, notably an X-ray system and an ultrasound system, is provided in which images or sequences of images are generated and used to automatically change or optimize the operational behavior of individual image system components. Measurement fields are defined in the images of an image sequence by means of a data processing unit. Information is extracted from the measurement fields in order to adapt the system components. More specifically, in the course of a sequence of images the measurement fields are adapted or shifted in conformity with the motion of objects.

Abstract: In a diagnostic imaging system (10), a monitor (50) monitors periodic biological cycles of the subject (14). A trigger point detector (60) detects a time (t1, t2, . . . ,tn) of a common, reoccurring reference point (R1, R2, . . . ,Rn) in each periodic cycle of the subject (14). A sequence selector (62) selects a sequence (64) of nominal sampling segments (Si, S2, . . . ,Sn). An adjustor (70) adjusts duration of each nominal sampling segment (Si, S2, . . . ,Sn) to coincide with the times of detected reference points (R1, R2, . . . ,Rn). A scaling processor (72) scales each adjusted segment based on a difference in duration between the corresponding nominal (Si, S2, . . . Sn) and adjusted sampling segments (S?i, S?2, . . . ,S?n).

Abstract: With the aid of an X-ray CT (5, 6), the spatial position (r) of a body cavity that is filled with blood is determined, which for example can be a part of the aorta or of the left ventricle of the heart of a patient (1). Subsequently, a TOF-PET unit that includes two detector elements (3a, 3b) is positioned to place a predefined volume element (2) in the blood filled body cavity. From pairs of annihilation quanta received from the volume element (2) a concentration of the tracer in this volume element (2) and thus in the blood is determined. This concentration can for example be used within the framework of pharmaco-kinetic examinations which are carried out on the patient (1) with the aid of a three-dimensional PET unit (4).

Abstract: A device for locally resolved control of a radiation dose (?(?,e+)({right arrow over (r)})) applied with a pulsed particle beam (6) in particle beam therapy, with a processing unit (24), which is set up to detect continuously a count rate of x-ray quanta (14) measured with a positron emission tomograph (2) and to determine the applied radiation dose (??(?,e+)({right arrow over (r)})) from the pattern of the measured count rate, by determining by computation from the measured pattern of the count rate the time intervals (In), in which an interaction of the particle beam (6) takes place at the application site and by rejecting these time intervals (In) for the determination of the applied radiation dose (?(?,e+)({right arrow over (r)})).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a unit for automatically adjusting a collimator (6). In this connection, a region (9) of interest inside the body is determined in an application-specific way from an analysis of first X-ray pictures, and the collimator (6) is then adjusted thereon. The region (9) of interest can, in particular, be chosen to be large enough for the irradiation field to cover all those positions of an organ (10) of interest that occur as a result of heartbeat and/or respiration. Preferably, a movement estimate' is undertaken during a current examination in order to be able to readjust the collimator (6) if necessary. If the region of interest cannot be localized, the collimator (6) is opened to a standard adjustment.

Abstract: A contrast agent for medical imaging techniques is described, comprising particles consisting of at least a core, the core comprising at least an oxide, mixed oxide, or hydroxide of specific elements. The particles optionally comprise shells containing or consisting of precious metal, radioactive isotopes, bio-compatibility agents, and/or antibodies. The applied imaging techniques comprise in particular magnetic resonance tomography (MRI), magnetic particle imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound (US).

Abstract: The invention relates to device and a method for determining the concentration of a PET tracer in the blood of a patient (1). With the aid of an X-ray CT (5, 6), first of all the spatial position (r) of a volume element (2) that is filled with blood is determined, which for example can be a part of the aorta or of the left ventricle of the heart. Subsequently, a TOF PET unit that comprises two detector elements (3a, 3b) is set in such a way that it establishes the concentration of the tracer in this volume element (2) and thus in the blood. This value can for example be used within the framework of pharmaco-kinetic examinations which are carried out on the patient (1) with the aid of a three-dimensional PET unit (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a unit for automatically adjusting a collimator (6). In this connection, a region (9) of interest inside the body is determined in an application-specific way from an analysis of first X-ray pictures, and the collimator (6) is then adjusted thereon. The region (9) of interest can, in particular, be chosen to be large enough for the irradiation field to cover all those positions of an organ (10) of interest that occur as a result of heartbeat and/or respiration. Preferably, a movement estimate' is undertaken during a current examination in order to be able to readjust the collimator (6) if necessary. If the region of interest cannot be localized, the collimator (6) is opened to a standard adjustment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for adapting a radiation dose of an X-ray source (1). The X-ray source (1) irradiates an object to be examined, for example, a patient (4), so as to form an X-ray image (7) on an X-ray detector (5). The X-ray image (7) is subdivided into image regions (A-I) and each time the brightest image region is successively separated from the remaining image regions in an iterative method if its mean grey value forms an indication of the presence of direct radiation (2b) in the relevant image region. The image regions still remaining at the end of the iteration operation correspond to an image region of interest which can be taken into account by a control unit (6) so as to calculate the optimum radiation dose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the processing of X-ray images which can be used notably in medical fluoroscopy procedures since they keep the overall radiation load for a patient low. Processing of and detail enhancement in the X-ray images is preferably performed by means of a pattern matching algorithm which necessitates prior knowledge of a pattern of the detail of interest. In order to extract this pattern, at least one single image (HD) is formed (2) with a higher dose rate, said single image having an image quality which suffices for the automatic (4) or non-automatic (3) recognition of the pattern. The information extracted from this single image serves as a basis for the evaluation of X-ray images (LD2) formed with a lower dose rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image system, notably an X-ray system and an ultrasound system, which generate images or sequences of images and automatically change or optimize the operational behavior of individual system components. To this end, measurement fields 30 are defined in images of an image sequence by means of a data processing unit. Information 14b, 15b, 16b, 17b and 18b is extracted from said measurement fields in order to adapt the system components. More specifically, in the course of a sequence of images the measurement fields are adapted or shifted in conformity with the motion of objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for adapting a radiation dose of an X-ray source (1). The X-ray source (1) irradiates an object to be examined, for example, a patient (4), so as to form an X-ray image (7) on an X-ray detector (5). The X-ray image (7) is subdivided into image regions (A-I) and each time the brightest image region is successively separated from the remaining image regions in an iterative method if its mean grey value forms an indication of the presence of direct radiation (2b) in the relevant image region. The image regions still remaining at the end of the iteration operation correspond to an image region of interest which can be taken into account by a control unit (6) so as to calculate the optimum radiation dose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the processing of X-ray images which can be used notably in medical fluoroscopy procedures since they keep the overall radiation load for a patient low. Processing of and detail enhancement in the X-ray images is preferably performed by means of a pattern matching algorithm which necessitates prior knowledge of a pattern of the detail of interest. In order to extract this pattern, at least one single image (HD) is formed (2) with a higher dose rate, said single image having an image quality which suffices for the automatic (4) or non-automatic (3) recognition of the pattern. The information extracted from this single image serves as a basis for the evaluation of X-ray images (LD2) formed with a lower dose rate.