Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12). The position determination unit (PDU) indicates the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) in the reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). The position determination unit (PDU) suppresses the indication of the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) under specified conditions relating to the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) and the ultrasound signals.

Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12). The position determination unit (PDU) indicates the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) in the reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). The position determination unit (PDU) suppresses the indication of the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) under specified conditions relating to the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) and the ultrasound signals.

Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a lateral position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12) based on a time of flight (TOFSmax) of a maximum detected intensity (ISmax) ultrasound signal. The position determination unit (PDU) also computes an out-of-plane distance (Dop) between the ultrasound transducer (15) and the image plane (12).

Abstract: A system for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an imaging field (B1 . . . k) corresponding to a type (T1 . . . n) of a beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (13) currently connected to an ultrasound imaging system (14). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI) corresponding to the imaging field (B1 . . . k). A position determination unit (PDU) receives input indicative of the type (T1 . . . k) of the beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (13) currently connected to the ultrasound imaging system (14). The position determination unit (PDU) also computes a position (LAPTOFFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the imaging field (B1 . . . k).

Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization apparatus for visualizing a quality of applying energy to an object. The quality of applying energy at a location on the object (3) is visualized based on a) a provided image of the object and b) a provided quality value which is a depth value indicative of the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object, representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object (3), wherein a visual property assigning unit (9) assigns a visual property to the location depending on the quality value and a display (10) displays the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image as a transmural region calculated using depth value(s) with respect to a wall of the object. In general a person who applies energy to the object is focused on the location at which energy is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization apparatus for visualizing a quality of applying energy to an object. The quality of applying energy at a location on the object (3) is visualized based on a) a provided image of the object and b) a provided quality value which is a depth value indicative of the depth to which the applied energy has altered the object, representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object (3), wherein a visual property assigning unit (9) assigns a visual property to the location depending on the quality value and a display (10) displays the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image as a transmural region calculated using depth value(s) with respect to a wall of the object. In general a person who applies energy to the object is focused on the location at which energy is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization apparatus for visualizing quality of applying energy to an object. The quality of applying energy at a location on the object (3) is visualized based on a) a provided image of the object and b) a provided quality value representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object (3), wherein a visual property assigning unit (9) assigns a visual property to the location depending on the quality value and a display (10) displays the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image. In general a person who applies energy to the object is focused on the location at which energy is applied. Since quality information is shown at the location on which the person is already focused, the quality dependent information can easily be absorbed by the person.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for laminating a sheet to a substrate in a stress free and distortion-less manner. The method comprises providing the sheet and substrate such that an attractive force between them exists that is capable of bringing the sheet and surface together at least when their distance is shorter than a critical distance. The method creates these conditions by locally making an initial contact between the sheet and substrate such that at a contact front, being the boundary between areas where the substrate and sheet are in contact and those where they are not in contact, these conditions exist. In a further step the sheet and substrate are allowed to gradually make contact such that the contact front advances along either of the substrate or sheet surface therewith increasing the contacting area between the substrate and the sheet.

Abstract: A sensor device (15) for detecting magnetic particles (13) has a binding surface (40) with binding sites thereon and includes at least one sensor element (23) for detecting the presence of magnetic particles (13), an element or elements for attracting magnetic structures having at least one magnetic particle (13) toward and onto the binding surface (40) of the sensor device (15), and an element or elements for re-arranging and randomizing the position of individual magnetic particles (13) with respect to the binding sites on the binding surface (40) to give binding sites on all individual particles (13) a substantial probability to have a contact time with binding sites on the binding surface (40). With such sensor device (15), the speed of detection of target molecules in a fluid is enhanced.

Abstract: A sensor device and a method for the determination of the amount of target particles at a contact surface adjacent to a sample chamber include detecting, by a detector, the target particles in the sample chamber by a sensor element, and providing at least one corresponding sensor signal. An evaluation unit determines the amount of target particles in a first zone at the contracts surface and in a second zone a distance away from the contact surface based on this sensor signal. In an optical measurement approach, frustrated total internal reflection taking place under different operating conditions, such as wavelength and/or angle of incidence, may be used to extract information about the first and second zones. In a magnetic measurement approach, different magnetic excitation fields may be used to excite magnetic target particles differently in the first and second zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a higher-order dispersion compensation device (210), the device being adapted to cooperate with a pair of optical components (P1, P2), e.g. a pair of prisms, being arranged to compensate first-order dispersion by separating different wavelengths spatially. The compensation device (210) has the form of a phase plate, wherein the phase change for each wavelength is adjusted by designing the height (h) at the corresponding position (x) of the plate so as to substantially compensate for higher-order dispersion. The invention is advantageous for obtaining a higher-order dispersion compensation device which is relatively simple to construct and use making it a quite cost-effective device. The invention also relates to a corresponding optical system and method for compensating dispersion where this is important, e.g. in a multiple-photon imaging system.

Abstract: A magnetic flow cytometry apparatus for detection of cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles has at least one pair of oppositely oriented magnets to provide between the magnets a first magnetic field region with a low magnetic field strength and to provide at poles of the magnets second magnetic field regions with a high magnetic field strength. The magnetic labeled cells provided within a flow input into the magnetic flow cytometry apparatus are enriched in at least one of the second magnetic field regions and supplied to the first magnetic field region, where a magnetic field is applied to the enriched magnetic labeled cells to measure the magnetic relaxation of the magnetic labeled cells in response to the applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting a flexible sheet to a first element with improved lateral alignment. The method includes a step of measuring a first lateral misalignment after establishing a first contact between the flexible sheet and either of the first element and a sheet parking surface called anchor in the first stage. If the 5 misalignment exceeds a predetermined threshold the flexible sheet is parked at the anchor such that it is not in contact with the first element, and the relative position of the first element and the anchor is altered during the second stage for correcting the mismatch during a contact between the flexible sheet and the first element to be established within the next step of the method. During the steps of shifting the contact point to obtain the second stage 10 the contacting process is more accurate and reproducible than the process for establishing the initial contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization apparatus for visualizing quality of applying energy to an object. The quality of applying energy at a location on the object (3) is visualized based on a) a provided image of the object and b) a provided quality value representing the quality of applying energy to the object at the location on the object (3), wherein a visual property assigning unit (9) assigns a visual property to the location depending on the quality value and a display(10) displays the provided image and the assigned visual property at the location on the object shown in the image. In general a person who applies energy to the object is focused on the location at which energy is applied. Since quality information is shown at the location on which the person is already focused, the quality dependent information can easily be absorbed by the person.

Abstract: The application is directed to a sensor element for use in a magnetochemical sensor, which comprises a first gel-like material (10), especially a swellable hydrogel such as polyacrylamide, and a magnetic second material (20) in the form of particles, especially magnetite (Fe304) nanoparticles, embedded in the first material along with a receptor for an alalyte, eg glucose. Changes in magnetic field due to interaction with the analyte are detected with GMR element (50). Applications include biosensors, DNA testing devices, and high throughput screening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a higher-order dispersion compensation device (210), the device being adapted to cooperate with a pair of optical components (P1, P2), e.g. a pair of prisms, being arranged to compensate first-order dispersion by separating different wavelengths spatially. The compensation device (210) has the form of a phase plate, wherein the phase change for each wavelength is adjusted by designing the height (h) at the corresponding position (x) of the plate so as to substantially compensate for higher-order dispersion. The invention is advantageous for obtaining a higher-order dispersion compensation device which is relatively simple to construct and use making it a quite cost-effective device. The invention also relates to a corresponding optical system and method for compensating dispersion where this is important, e.g. in a multiple-photon imaging system.