Abstract: An interventional device, e.g. a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) needle, incorporating optical fibers such that biological tissue in a volume at a side of the interventional device can be substantially completely optically probed by optical spectroscopy. In a VAB embodiment, a plurality of optical fiber pairs connected to respective optical ports, are placed at opposite positions along the suction cavity, and they are readout subsequently allowing to make a map of the tissue properties along the place where the tissue will be cut by the VAB needle. Based on decision software in an optical console, it can be determined whether the tissue present in the cutting cavity is completely normal tissue or not, prior to actually performing the biopsy on the tissue. In this way a well defined end point for VAB is created.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a medical device configured to provide a function to a user, communicate via a wireless communication channel with one or more other devices, and send a signal to shift a medical device application from a locked state to an unlocked state. The system also includes a computing device having wireless communication channels and a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the computing device to communicate with the medical device, execute the medical device application, and shift from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to receiving the signal from the medical device. Core functionality of the medical device application is disabled when the medical device application is in the locked state, and some functionality applicable to the medical device is enabled when the medical device application is in the unlocked state.

Abstract: An electro-surgical system (100) with an optical feedback functionality for performing electro-surgery on tissue (200) of patient. An electro-surgical device (105) has an electrode portion (110) with an optical guide (114) integrated therein. An optical unit (160) performs optical characterization of tissue type and/or condition, and is arranged for performing an analysis of the tissue type and/or condition. A control unit (170) generates a feedback control signal (FEEDCON) based on the analysis of the tissue type and/or condition, optical guide allows inspecting the tissue that is e.g. just a few millimeters ahead of the electrode portion (110) performing e.g. the cutting. As a result of the fast and reliable analysis performed by the spectrometer in the optical unit according to the present invention, the system can proactively react to what kind of tissue is in front of the electro-surgical portion i.e. the ‘blade’ of the electro-surgical device or the electro-surgical ‘knife’.

Abstract: An autonomous driving unit for a self-driving motor vehicle is provided. The autonomous driving unit includes a memory that stores route data for a determined route, wherein the route data are based on the drive along the determined route. The autonomous driving unit also includes a control unit, which is connected to the memory, and includes a driving mode for autonomously driving along the determined route with the aid of the route data stored for the determined route.

Abstract: For operating a motor vehicle, a travel path of the motor vehicle across a roadway section of a roadway situated ahead of the motor vehicle and in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle is ascertained. The travel path is defined by an instantaneous running condition of the motor vehicle, a virtual local map that contains instantaneous local wind conditions, an instantaneous location of the motor vehicle on the virtual local map, and information relating to the instantaneous environment of the motor vehicle. The ascertained travel path is used for actuating at least one device of the motor vehicle that influences the instantaneous running condition of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A heater for vehicular sensors is configured to pass sensing energy and thereby permit placement of the heater directly over the sensing area in the path of the sensed energy. In this way, direct heating of the sensing area is provided minimizing the energy necessary to prevent icing and improving deicing speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a switching device (4) and a measurement system (1). In the method according to the invention for determining time differences between measurement signals measured by at least two couple measurement devices (2, 3), a time basis signal is first generated for the measurement devices (2, 3). A common reference signal is further generated by a signal generator (5). The common reference signal is fed to measurement signal inputs (8, 9) of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3) via the switching device (4). A measurement signal is then fed to said measurement signal inputs (8, 9) of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3) and the time position of the measurement signals relative to the reference signal is determined in each of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polymers, in particular synthetic nucleic acid double strands of optional sequence, comprising the steps: (a) provision of a support having a surface area which contains a plurality of individual reaction areas, (b) location-resolved synthesis of nucleic acid fragments having in each case different base sequences in several of the individual reaction areas, and (c) detachment of the nucleic acid fragments from individual reaction areas.

Abstract: An optical sensor for operating along a catheter (103), the optical sensor comprising a light pattern generator configured to project at least one light pattern at a radial projection angle with respect to the optical sensor length onto the inner surface of an elongated volume into which the optical sensor is inserted, wherein the light pattern generator comprises an illumination system for providing a first light beam having a component of its direction along the sensor length and a first light redirection element (1007) configured to redirect the light beam to generate the at least one light pattern (1009) at an oblique and/or right angle to the optical sensor length, a second light redirection element (1012) for redirecting a reflected version of the light pattern from the inner surface of the elongated volume to provide a second light beam and- an imaging device (1013) having a field of view (1011) with a central axis substantially parallel to the length of the optical sensor for receiving the second ligh

Abstract: A catheter includes at least two optical sensors distributed along the catheter, each optical sensor comprising: a light pattern generator configured to project at a radial projection angle to the catheter at least one light pattern on the inner surface of an elongated volume into which the optical sensor is inserted; and an imaging device substantially aligned along a length of the optical sensor, the imaging device configured to observe the at least one light pattern on the inner surface of the elongated volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing bags from tubular material having fabric made of stretched plastic strips has at least one tube-forming device or a tube-unwinding device, by which tubular material for producing bags can be produced from web-shaped material and in which the tubular material, can be conveyed in a transport direction (x?), at least one tube-separating device, by which tube pieces can be separated from the tubular material, a bottom-forming device, by which bottoms can be molded onto at least one end of a tube piece, and at least one transport device for transporting the tube pieces within the bottom-forming device in a transport direction (x) extending transversely to their direction of extension (y) The transport direction (x?) of the tubular material in the tube-forming device or the tube-unwinding device and the transport direction (x) of the tube pieces in the transport device are parallel to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photonic probe apparatus and a method for probing tissue to detect and mark biological tissue with cancerous or precancerous states. The apparatus involves a probe for illuminating tissue and collecting light from an illuminated tissue region through the probe, a unit for analyzing collected light to determine whether a threshold measure of probability of a cancerous or precancerous lesion in the probed tissue region in contact with the probe is exceeded, and an integrated tissue marking facility which can be activated to mark the probed tissue region through the probe when the threshold measure is exceeded. The photonic probe apparatus and the method are especially suitable for probing regions in squamous and columnar epithelia to detect and mark regions with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Abstract: A medical imaging system for identifying a target structure (TS), e.g. a tumor, in a biological tissue. A hyperspectral camera system is used for imaging a surface area (A1) of the tissue (BT), e.g. with a limited spectral resolution, but enough to allow identification of suspicious areas where the target structure (TS) may be, e.g. such areas can be visually indicated on a display to the operator. A probe (PR), e.g. an optical surface probe, is used to provide probe measurement of a smaller surface area (A2) of the tissue, but with more information indicative of the target structure. The probe is selected to provide a higher specificity with respect to identification of the target structure than the hyperspectral camera (HSC). The hyperspectral processing algorithm (PP) is then calibrated based on probe measurement data performed within the suspicious areas, thus providing a calibrated hyperspectral processing algorithm resulting in images with an enhanced sensitivity to identify the target structure.

Abstract: An interventional device, e.g. a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) needle, incorporating optical fibers such that biological tissue in a volume at a side of the interventional device can be substantially completely optically probed by optical spectroscopy. In a VAB embodiment, a plurality of optical fiber pairs connected to respective optical ports, are placed at opposite positions along the suction cavity, and they are readout subsequently allowing to make a map of the tissue properties along the place where the tissue will be cut by the VAB needle. Based on decision software in an optical console, it can be determined whether the tissue present in the cutting cavity is completely normal tissue or not, prior to actually performing the biopsy on the tissue. In this way a well defined end point for VAB is created.

Abstract: In a production method for a booklet having an over-size cover sheet, first all the pages of the booklet are joined together and connected. Thereupon the cover sheet is at first folded aside and the remaining sheets are cut to the desired format. Subsequently, the cover sheet is brought to the desired over-size format in a special method, preferably using a laser beam. A booklet in which the cover sheet is cut in different manner than the remaining stack of sheets is produced according to the production process indicated above.

Abstract: A method for providing an emergency functionality when setting up a call directed to a User Equipment in a public land mobile network, the public land mobile network having a home database and a visitor database, includes, in case of the occurrence of a mobile terminating call towards the User Equipment: requesting, by a requesting entity, that the home database provide information specific to the User Equipment to the requesting entity; and in case of a failure of the functionality of the home database, requesting, by the requesting entity, that the visitor database provide the information specific to the User Equipment.

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: An electro-surgical system (100) with an optical feedback functionality for performing electro-surgery on tissue (200) of patient. An electro-surgical device (105) has an electrode portion (110) with an optical guide (114) integrated therein. An optical unit (160) performs optical characterization of tissue type and/or condition, and is arranged for performing an analysis of the tissue type and/or condition. A control unit (170) generates a feedback control signal (FEEDCON) based on the analysis of the tissue type and/or condition, optical guide allows inspecting the tissue that is e.g. just a few millimeters ahead of the electrode portion (110) performing e.g. the cutting. As a result of the fast and reliable analysis performed by the spectrometer in the optical unit according to the present invention, the system can proactively react to what kind of tissue is in front of the electro-surgical portion i.e. the ‘blade’ of the electro-surgical device or the electro-surgical ‘knife’.

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 relates to a detection apparatus (30) for determining a state of tissue. The detection apparatus (30) comprises a fluorescence spectrum providing unit (2, 3) for providing a fluorescence spectrum of the tissue, a differentiation unit (4) for generating a derivative of the fluorescence spectrum, and a tissue state determination unit (5) for determining the state of the tissue from the derivative. This allows determining the state of the tissue, even if characteristics, which are related to the state of the tissue, are only hardly visible or not visible at all in the fluorescence spectrum. The reliability of determining the state of the tissue, for instance, whether the tissue is cancerous or not, can therefore be improved.