Abstract: A subject information acquisition apparatus according to the present invention includes multiple first conversion elements which receive photoacoustic waves. A direction in which reception sensitivity is highest differs between a first part of the first conversion elements, and a second part of the first conversion elements which is different from the first part of the first conversion elements. Both are disposed on the supporting member with the direction in which reception sensitivity is highest each facing toward a predetermined region. Also included is a plurality of second conversion elements which are different from the first conversion elements and which transmit acoustic waves to the subject and each receive reflection waves reflected within the subject.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an examined-portion information acquisition apparatus including two examined-portion holding members each configured to hold one of two examined portions, a receiver configured to receive an acoustic wave, and a moving system configured to move the receiver from a position at which the receiver receives an acoustic wave from one examined portion held by one examined-portion holding member among the two examined-portion holding members to a position at which the receiver receives an acoustic wave from another examined portion held by the other examined-portion holding member, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of transducers configured to receive an acoustic wave, and a supporting member on which the plurality of transducers are arranged, and the plurality of transducers are arranged on the supporting member such that directivity axes of some transducers among the plurality of transducers converge.

Abstract: In order to provide a thread (4, 5) for producing fabrics (2) for insect screens (1), comprising a core, the core having a coating (11) which comprises a heat-activatable adhesive for integrally bonding to itself or to other threads of the fabric (2), and said core having a higher melting point than the adhesive, to provide a fabric (2) for insect screens (1) with a stitch/web structure (7), comprising warp threads (4) and weft threads (5) which are interconnected at node points (6) by means of adhesives, to provide an insect screen (1) comprising a frame (3) and a fabric (2) which is clamped by means of the frame (3), and to provide a method for producing fabrics (2) for insect screens (1), comprising the steps of a) providing threads (4, 5) as warp threads (4) and weft threads (5), b) weaving a fabric (2) using the warp threads (4) and weft threads (5), and c) heating the fabric (2) to a temperature that is higher than the melting point of the adhesive and lower than the melting point of the core so as to c

Abstract: A system for delivering advanced natural language interaction applications, comprising a dialog interface module, a natural language interaction engine, a solution data repository component operating comprising at least one domain model, at least one language model, and a plurality of flow elements and rules for managing interactions with users, and an interface software module. Upon receipt of a request from a user via a network, the dialog interface module preprocesses the request and transmits it to the natural language interaction engine. The natural language interaction engine interprets the request using a plurality of language recognition rules stored in the solution data repository, and based at least determined semantic meaning or user intent, the natural language interaction engine forms an appropriate response and delivers the response to the user via the dialog module, or takes an appropriate action based on the request.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with operation of a retail store. The system includes at least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide images of at least one location within the retail store, with each image showing at least one factor related to performance of the at least one task. A controller is adapted to obtain and store images from the at least one monitoring device. An interface is adapted to enable a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the performance of the at least one task.

Abstract: The invention features a system for imaging tissue including (i) a source of electromagnetic radiation; (ii) an encasement h a plurality of acoustic transducers (e.g., at least 128); (iii) a support structure having a portion for holding a tissue; and (iv) a chamber between the encasement and support structure for housing an acoustic coupling medium. In the system, electromagnetic radiation from the source is sufficient to induce a thermoacoustic response in the tissue positioned in the support structure, and the plurality of acoustic transducers are positioned to receive ultrasound from the thermoacoustic response of the tissue. The invention also features methods of imaging a tissue using the systems.

Abstract: A three-dimensional thermoacoustic imaging system uses dye markers. Thermoacoustic signals are produced by the dye markers when light from an external source is absorbed by the dye. Thermoacoustic images with and without dye stimulation may be generated using excitation frequencies both inside and outside the frequency band of fluorescence of the dye marker, and these may be combined, and/or combined with conventional ultrasound images for image enhancement. An apparatus for carrying out this method on mice, uses a commercially available array of transducers positioned opposite to the body of the mouse, which is immersed in a coupling media. A source of illumination such as a laser directs light to the mouse through the coupling media, and resulting acoustic waves are captured by the array and reconstructed to form an image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional thermoacoustic imaging system uses dye markers. Thermoacoustic signals are produced by the dye markers when light from an external source is absorbed by the dye. Thermoacoustic images with and without dye stimulation may be generated using excitation frequencies both inside and outside the frequency band of fluorescence of the dye marker, and these may be combined, and/or combined with conventional ultrasound images for image enhancement. An apparatus for carrying out this method on mice, uses a commercially available array of transducers positioned opposite to the body of the mouse, which is immersed in a coupling media. A source of illumination such as a laser directs light to the mouse through the coupling media, and resulting acoustic waves are captured by the array and reconstructed to form an image.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with operation of a retail store. The system includes at least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide images of at least one location within the retail store, with each image showing at least one factor related to performance of the at least one task. A controller is adapted to obtain and store images from the at least one monitoring device. An interface is adapted to enable a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the performance of the at least one task.

Abstract: A three-dimensional thermoacoustic imaging system uses dye markers. Thermoacoustic signals are produced by the dye markers when light from an external source is absorbed by the dye. Thermoacoustic images with and without dye stimulation may be generated using excitation frequencies both inside and outside the frequency band of fluorescence of the dye marker, and these may be combined, and/or combined with conventional ultrasound images for image enhancement. An apparatus for carrying out this method on mice, uses a commercially available array of transducers positioned opposite to the body of the mouse, which is immersed in a coupling media. A source of illumination such as a laser directs light to the mouse through the coupling media, and resulting acoustic waves are captured by the array and reconstructed to form an image.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic imaging system including an electromagnetic radiation source for irradiating said tissue to stimulate a thermoacoustic response, a coupling media for acoustically coupling the response to an acoustic sensor array, and an acoustic sensor array. The array comprises sensors arranged on a surface, which is rotatable about an axis to position said sensors in a plurality of positions for detecting the thermoacoustic response. The angular extent of the surface about the axis, subtends an angle that is less than a full revolution, streamlining the device and permitting flexibility in positioning the radiation source and other elements of the device. The source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the tissue is a plurality of sources arranged about the tissue and producing synchronized electromagnetic radiation in varying polarizations or phases to irradiate said tissue with electromagnetic radiation of a desired polarization.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers arranged on an rotatable imaging bowl are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. Specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated, and noise reduction techniques are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. The tissue is exposed to modulating electromagnetic radiation, to produce modulating acoustic signals. The modulating acoustic signals are detected by an acoustic sensor which is primarily sensitive to acoustic radiation at a focal point distant from said sensor. Multiple measurements from multiple different focal points can then be combined into an image, or measurements at the same focal point at different excitation frequencies can be combined to produce an absorptivity spectrum for the tissue, either of which may be used for medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues (12) in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves 26. Multiple acoustic transducers (33) are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and characterizing the localized electromagnetic wave absorption properties of biologic tissues in vivo, using incident electromagnetic waves to produce resultant acoustic waves. Multiple acoustic transducers are acoustically coupled to the surface of the tissue for measuring acoustic waves produced in the tissue when the tissue is exposed to a pulse of electromagnetic radiation. The multiple transducer signals are then combined to produce an image of the absorptivity of the tissue, which image may be used for medical diagnostic purposes. In specific embodiments, the transducers are moved to collect data from multiple locations, to facilitate imaging. Specific arrangements of transducers are illustrated. Also, specific mathematical reconstruction procedures are described for producing images from transducer signals.