Abstract: A clamp mechanism for fixation of an optical fiber (OSF) with optical shape sensing properties arranged for Optical Shape Sensing. A fixing element preferably with a circular cross section serves to engage with the optical fiber (OSF), and together with an additional fixing arrangement with a straight longitudinal portion arranged for engaging with the associated optical fiber (OSF), a fixation of a section of the optical fiber (OSF) is provided with the optical fiber (OSF) in a straight position. In some embodiments, the clamp mechanism can be implemented by three straight rods (R1, R2, R3) with circular cross section, e.g. with the same diameter being a factor of such as 6.46 times a diameter of the optical fiber (OSF). Hereby an effective fixation and straightening of the optical fiber (OSF) without disturbing strain can be obtained with a clamp mechanism which is easy to assemble and disassemble in practical applications e.g.

Abstract: There is presented an optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system (100) comprising a first coupling point (15) arranged for splitting radiation into two parts, so that radiation may be emitted into a reference path (16) and a measurement path (17). The system further comprises an optical detection unit (30) capable of obtaining a signal from the combined optical radiation from the reference path and the measurement path via a second coupling point (25). The measurement path (17) comprises a polarization dependent optical path length shifter (PDOPS, PDFS, 10), which may create a first polarization (PI) and a second polarization (P2) for the radiation in the measurement path, where the optical path length is different for the first and second polarizations in the measurement path. This may be advantageous for obtaining an improved optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system where e.g. the two measurements for input polarizations may be performed in the same scan of a radiation source.

Abstract: An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for navigating and positioning an instrument (12, 40, 112) in a body (14). The instrument (12, 40, 112) is detectable by the system (10) and the system (10) displays a view to an operator. The instrument (12, 40, 112) is adapted to identify tissue parameters. The system (10) is adapted to display an image being a combined image of the interior of a body (14) and an indication of the tissue parameter at the appropriate earlier locations. The present invention further relates to a method (44) including determining tissue parameters and displaying the parameters in an image of a body (14). The present invention further relates to a software implemented method (44) for being executed on a digital processor. The present invention further relates to an instrument (12, 40, 112).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) for guiding an instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) in a body (14). The system (10) records an image where the instrument (12, 100, 100A,100B, 112) is identifiable and the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) records signals indicative of the type of tissue at the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) determines the tissue type based on a signal from the instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112). The system (10) displays an image being a combined image of the body (14) and instrument (12, 100, 100A, 100B, 112) and an indication of tissue type at a position where the tissue type was determined. The present invention further relates to a method of displaying an image comprising tissue-type and instrument position in a body. The present invention further relates to an instrument and a software implemented method for being executed on a digital processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensing system (1) for determining the position and/or shape of an associated object (O), the system comprises an optical fibers (10) having one or more optical fiber cores (9) with one or more fiber Bragg gratings (FBG, 8) extending along the full length where the position and/or shape is be to determined of said object (O). A reflectometer (REFL, 12) measures strain at a number of sampling points along the optical fiber cores, and a processor (PROC, 14) determines the position and/or shape based on said measured strains from the plurality of optical fiber cores. The fiber Bragg grating(s) (FBG, 8) extends along the full length of said optical fiber cores (9), the fiber core having a spatially modulated reflection (r) along the said full length of the optical fiber core so that the corresponding reflection spectrum is detectable in said wavelength scan.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse splitting device (5) adapted to receive irradiation pulses (10) with a central wavelength (1) from a pulsed irradiation source (2) and output a plurality of sub-pulses (11,12,15,17) for each incoming irradiation pulse. The received irradiation pulses and the pulse splitter (5) interacts so that a first and a second sub-pulse (11,12) are temporally separated by a first optical path length (OP1) in a first region and a second optical path length (OP2) in a second region, respectively. The first optical path length (OP1) times the group velocity dispersion (GVD1) with respect to wavelength in the first material, is balanced with the second optical path length (OP2) times the group velocity dispersion (GVD2) with respect to wavelength in the second material, so that the dispersion broadening of the first and the second sub-pulses (11,12) is substantially equal. This facilitates improved subsequent dispersion compensation by both sub-pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus 100 and, a method and a computer program for determining a first parameter indicative of a concentration of lycopene. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus 100 comprising a spectrometer 02, which spectrometer comprises a light source 104 and a detector 106, 108 arranged to measure an optical spectrum via an interventional device 112. This enables determination of a first parameter being indicative of a lycopene concentration. Lycopene concentration may serve as a discriminative feature for different tissue types, such as the prostate organ and associated structures. The apparatus may in a specific embodiment be arranged to determine a second parameter indicative of a tissue type based on a concentration of lycopene. According to a specific embodiment, the apparatus relies on Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS).

Abstract: The invention discloses an optical microscopy system (10) for stimulated emission depletion (STED) of an object (O). An optical element (6) is applied for focusing a first excitation (1) and a second depletion (2) beam on the object thereby defining a common optical path (OP) for both the first and the second beam. A phase modifying member (5) is inserted in the common optical path (OP), and the phase modifying member is optically arranged for leaving the wavefront of the first beam substantially unchanged, and for changing the wavefront of the second beam (2?) so as to create an undepleted region of interest (ROI) in the object. The first beam and the second beam have a common optical path because the phase modifying member adapts the wavefront or phase in such a way that it has no effect on the first beam, while on the second beam it gives rise to a wavefront, or phase change, resulting in a depleted region in the object (e.g. to the donut shaped spot) at the focal plane.

Abstract: In order to improve fluorescence measurements, there is provided an apparatus and, a method and a computer program for optical analysis of an associated tissue sample, the apparatus comprising a spectrometer comprising an optical detector, a light source, a first light emitter 219 arranged for emitting photons into the associated tissue sample, a first light collector 221 arranged for receiving photons from the associated tissue sample, a second light emitter 223, a second light collector 225, wherein a reflectance spectrum is obtained via the first light emitter 219 and collector 221 and a fluorescence spectrum is obtained via the second light emitter 223 and collector 225, and where a first distance d1 between the first light emitter and collector is larger than a second distance d2 between the second light emitter and collector. By combining the data thus obtained, an intrinsic fluorescence spectrum may be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for extending microscopy information, where the microscopy information is image information from a first region (118) of an associated sample, the first region being imaged with an imaging system. The extension of the microscopy information originates from probing a larger second region (116) by photons which are emitted at an exit position (128) and collected at en entry position (130). The exit position and the entry position are spatially separated so that so that average spectral information of photons emitted from the exit position and collected at the entry position, is dependent on the second region (116) of the associated sample, the second region (116) being larger than the first region (118).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a computer program for determining a lipid-water ratio and a scattering parameter of a sample. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising a light source and a detector arranged to measure an optical parameter at various wavelengths, where the wavelengths are selected so that at two of the wavelengths the absorption coefficients for both water and lipids are substantially identical. This enables determination of a scattering parameter. A further measurement at a third wavelength enables determination of a water-lipid ratio. According to a specific embodiment, the light source and the detector are arranged in relation to an interventional device, so as to be able to examine a tissue in terms of lipid-water ratio and scattering during an intervention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse splitting device (5) adapted to receive irradiation pulses (10) with a central wavelength (1) from a pulsed irradiation source (2) and output a plurality of sub-pulses (11,12, 15,17) for each incoming irradiation pulse. The received irradiation pulses and the pulse splitter (5) interacts so that a first and a second sub-pulse (11,12) are temporally separated by a first optical path length (OP1) in a first region and a second optical path length (OP2) in a second region, respectively. The first optical path length (OP1) times the group velocity dispersion (GVD1) with respect to wavelength in the first material, is balanced with the second optical path length (OP2) times the group velocity dispersion (GVD2) with respect to wavelength in the second material, so that the dispersion broadening of the first and the second sub-pulses (11,12) is substantially equal. This facilitates improved subsequent dispersion compensation by both sub-pulses.

Abstract: An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment an x-ray tube comprises a cathode, rotable disc anode, and a focal spot modulating unit, wherein the cathode is adapted to emit an electron beam, and wherein the focal spot modulating unit is adapted to modulate the electron beam in such a way that an intensity distribution of the electron beam on a focal spot on the anode is asymmetric such that the intensity of the electron beam on the focal spot is higher at the front of the focal spot with respect to the rotation direction.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment an x-ray tube comprises a cathode, rotable disc anode, and a focal spot modulating unit, wherein the cathode is adapted to emit an electron beam, and wherein the focal spot modulating unit is adapted to modulate the electron beam in such a way that an intensity distribution of the electron beam on a focal spot on the anode is asymmetric such that the intensity of the electron beam on the focal spot is higher at the front of the focal spot with respect to the rotation direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining lens errors in a Scanning Electron Microscope, more specifically to a sample that enables such lens errors to be determined. The invention describes, for example, the use of cubic MgO crystals which are relatively easy to produce as so-called ‘self-assembling’ crystals on a silicon wafer. Such crystals have almost ideal angles and edges. Even in the presence of lens errors this may give a clear impression of the situation if no lens errors are present. This enables a good reconstruction to be made of the cross-section of the beam in different under- and over-focus planes. The lens errors can then be determined on the basis of this reconstruction, whereupon they can be corrected by means of a corrector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magneto-optical recording technique whereby improved domain expansion reading is achieved. A mark region is recorded as a sub-mark portion and an adjacent sub-space portion, wherein the length of the sub-mark portion is set to be less than or equal to the length of the sub-space portion. Stray field variations due to different runlengths of the recording data can thus be equalized even for short channel bit lengths, while the resolution and/or power margin is improved.

Abstract: For high-resolution and low bit-error-rate MAMMOS readout, a magnetic head includes a flat magnetic coil (1) having a coil layer structure (3a, 3b) having an electrically conductive winding (5a, 5b), and includes a permanent-magnet layer structure (7) extending parallel to the coil layer structure and having an in-plane magnetic axis (m).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for encoding a stream of bits of a signal relating to a binary source into a stream of bits of a signal relating to a binary channel, the binary source comprising a main source and a secondary source, the main source being encoded in a main channel and the secondary source being encoded in a secondary channel, the secondary channel being embedded in the main channel in order to form the binary channel, wherein the binary channel is divided in blocks, each block comprising a number of user bits and that in at least one of the blocks the secondary channel also is used for encoding non-user bits.