Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3?-untranslated region (3?-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.

Abstract: A two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging of a target region in a hollow organ is provided. A two- or three-dimensional reconstruction image dataset is reconstructed from two-dimensional images from the inside of the hollow organ that are recorded by via a rotating image recording device and displayed, with images covering the entire target region being recorded during a partial rotation of the image recording device through a rotation angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the combined representation of a series of 2D fluoroscopic images of the beating heart with a static 3D image data set of the same heart. The fluoroscopic images are registered with the 3D image data set and from this a 2D pseudo-projection on to the image plane of each fluoroscopic image generated in each case. This is then represented with the associated fluoroscopic image overlaid. The method is characterized in that the pseudo-projection is represented differently in each case or is not represented depending on the interval of the cardiac phase of the currently represented fluoroscopic image relative to the cardiac phase of the 3D image data set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for merging a 2D radioscopy image with an image obtained from a 3D image data record, having a memory unit that stores the 2D radioscopy image and the 3D image data record, a segmentation unit that segments an inner surface of a hollow organ from the 3D image data record, a registration unit that registers the 2D radioscopy image with the 3D image data record, a back-projection unit that back-projects the pixels of the 2D radioscopy image onto the segmented surface, taking account of the projection geometry of the 2D radioscopy image and the registration, and an image merger unit that generates a virtual endoscopy view of the surface from the segmented surface using the back-projected pixels. The device primarily allows 2D radioscopy images to be superimposed during interventional procedures with a fly display of the interior of an interesting organ.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for positioned accurately displaying regions of interest tissue in a three-dimensional reconstruction representation derived from a first image dataset previously recorded for a hollow organ in a patient, comprising: recording catheter image dataset by an image recording catheter placed in the hollow organ and registering the first image dataset with the catheter image dataset; segmenting from the first image dataset a section of interest tissue or a tissue bounding this section and locating the section of tissue; forming an image dataset for the section of tissue using the segmentation and the registration in cropping out from the catheter image dataset the image data which shows this section of tissue; generating an image display of the section of tissue or the region of tissue derived from it and displaying in the three-dimensional reconstruction representation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3?-untranslated region (3?-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for differentially representing myocardial tissue in different states of damage, comprising the following steps: administering a myocardium-suitable contrast agent to a patient under examination; entering at least one patient-specific parameter affecting the speed of uptake by and elimination from the myocardium of said contrast agent; calculating a point in time after administration of the contrast agent at which a difference between a contrast agent content in necrotic myocardial tissue and a contrast agent content in non-necrotic myocardial tissue attains a maximum value, on the basis of the at least one patient-specific parameter, and carrying out, at the point in time calculated, a late-phase CT scan for accentuation of necrotic myocardial tissue compared to non-necrotic myocardial tissue. The invention likewise relates to apparatus, in particular for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the targeted selection of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) consisting of two single strands that exhibits increased effectiveness in inhibiting the expression of a target gene by means of RNA interference, whereby the sequences of the single strands of the dsRNA are selected in such a way that on both ends of the dsRNA the last complementary nucleotide pair is a G-C, or at least two of the last four complementary nucleotide pairs are G-C pairs; whereby the dsRNA exhibits a single-stranded overhang consisting of 1 to 4 unpaired nucleotides at the first end, and no overhang at the second end; whereby the unpaired nucleotide of the single-stranded overhang that is directly adjacent to the last complementary nucleotide pair contains a purine base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for locally-resolved visualization of the reconstruction quality, especially of the coverage of a target volume to be recorded as an image and reproduced in a three-dimensional reconstruction volume presentation, especially in the human body, by two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images covering subareas of the volume recorded by a recording device arranged inside the target volume, with which the three-dimensional reconstruction volume presentation is created, with the subareas of the target volume covered by the individual images being determined and a visual locally-resolved presentation of the reconstruction quality, especially of the coverage, being created and output as a function of the subarea coverage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for visualizing three dimensional objects, in particular in real time. A three dimensional image data set of the object is created and registered with recorded two dimensional transillumination images of the object. For visualization purposes the edges of the object are extracted from the three dimensional data set and visually combined with the two dimensional transillumination images containing the edges of the object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reconstructing a three-dimensional target volume, particularly within the human body, in realtime and displaying it, with a three-dimensional reconstruction volume being determined from a basic set comprising a minimum number of two-dimensional images obtained from an image recording device located within the target volume, wherein, when a new image is included in the basic set, locally limited updating at least of the reconstruction volume's partial areas covered by the new image will under a predefined condition be performed and the updated reconstruction volume will be displayed.

Abstract: An image proceseing algorithm is provided in the context of a cache-optimized optimization of an image data set to access at least one part of the pixels of the image data set in accordance with its image coordinates in an acces order determined by a space-filling curve.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing of diagnostic image data. In one embodiment, the method includes determination of three-dimensional image information using an imaging medico-technical method, in which an examined volume is subdivided into a plurality of voxels and each voxel is allocated one measurement value, and selection of a subset of the voxels, with the measurement values which are associated with the selected voxels satisfying a specific relationship with a limit value. The method further includes identification of at least one cohesive volume area within the selected subset of the voxels, determination of a surface of the identified cohesive volume area, and determination of the distance between voxels within the cohesive volume area and the surface.

Abstract: An intuitive user interface is provided for endoscopic view visualization. The user interface may permit individual or simultaneous navigation through images displayed in an endoscopic view window, a three dimensional overview window, and a multi-planar reformatted window. An operation performed directly on one of the windows may commence the navigation. The endoscopic view window may be divided into a plurality of sub-regions, each sub-region having a corresponding navigation function. The endoscopic view window and the three dimensional overview window may have corresponding icons related to a single location in corresponding images being displayed. The corresponding icons may be color coded to facilitate intuitive alignment of the corresponding images displayed in the different windows. The three dimensional overview window may have a geometric icon to facilitate intuitive alignment of the corresponding images.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for manual adjustment of a focus position in microscopes with a motor-operated focusing drive. According to the invention, the arrangement has a first operator's control for giving an adjusting path length and a second operator's control for giving an adjusting speed. The two operator's controls are preferably constructed as rotating knobs. An adjusting path length for the focusing movement is given by the rotational angle at the first rotating knob, and an adjusting speed of the focusing movement is given by the rotational angle at the second rotating knob. The change in the rotational angle at the first rotating knob is proportional to the change in the adjusting path and the change in the rotational angle at the second rotating knob is proportional to the change in the adjusting speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having improved efficiency of inhibition of gene expression, methods of making the dsRNA, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA. The dsRNA comprises an RNA strand (complementary RNA strand) having a region which is complementary to an RNA transcript of at least a part of a target gene, and at least one covalently linked lipophilic group. The dsRNA are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene. The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene.

Abstract: The invention concerns a medicament to treat a fibrotic disease, wherein the medicament contains a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) that is suitable for inhibiting by RNA interference the expression of a gene that is involved in the formation of extracellular matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a mutant gene, comprising a complementary RNA strand having a complementary region that is substantially complementary to a portion of the mutant gene, and which is partially complementary to the corresponding wild-type gene. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as for treating diseases caused by expression of the target gene. The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting the expression of a target mutant gene, as well as methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of the target gene.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) to treat a (+) strand RNA virus infection, wherein one strand S1 of the dsRNA exhibits a region that is at least segmentally complementary to a segment of the translatable region of the virus genome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length and which is substantially identical to at least a part of a 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of a (+) strand RNA virus, such as HCV, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treating infections and diseases caused by the replication or activity of the (+) strand RNA virus, as well as methods for inhibiting viral replication.