Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for image guided surgery. Such systems and methods receive a model of an anatomical structure as well as a model of an object, and process a projection image generated by an imaging device from an imaging direction, wherein the projection image includes at least a part of the anatomical structure and at least a part of the object. Based on (i) the projection image, (ii) the imaging direction, (iii) the model of the object, and (iv) the model of the anatomical structure, the systems and methods determine a spatial position and orientation of the object relative to a space of movement. The space of movement may be defined in relation to the anatomical structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous robotic surgery are provided to control a movement of a robotic device so as to perform a surgical procedural step, wherein controlling of the movement is based on information including a spatial position and orientation of at least a part of the robotic device. A trigger information may cause the system to pause or stop the surgical procedural step and cause the system to receive a projection image. Further, the projection image may be processed so as to determine a spatial position and orientation of at least the part of the object or of the robotic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a continual automatic registration of bone or bone-fragments, instruments, and implants based on only one additional X-ray without the need of changing the position of the X-ray source. A two-dimensional X-ray image is received, which X-ray image shows a surgical region of interest. Artificial intelligence assisted automatic detection and localization of objects such as bone or bone-fragments, tools (e.g., a drill) and/or implants combined with a priori information about the surgical procedure are used to compute their relative three-dimensional positions and orientations at any desired point in time. This registration of the objects can be repeated multiple times and can thus provide guidance in near real time.

Abstract: A wave energy converter comprises a rotor, which is designed to convert a wave movement of a body of water, in which the wave energy converter is arranged, into a rotational movement of the rotor, wherein a mean density of at least one rotating component of the rotor can be adjusted and/or is lower than the mean density of the fluid surrounding the rotor in the body of water. The disclosure likewise relates to a corresponding control device and an operating method.

Abstract: A wave energy converter comprises a rotor, which is designed to convert a wave movement of a body of water, in which the wave energy converter is arranged, into a rotational movement of the rotor, wherein a mean density of at least one rotating component of the rotor can be adjusted and/or is lower than the mean density of the fluid surrounding the rotor in the body of water. The disclosure likewise relates to a corresponding control device and an operating method.

Abstract: A valve actuator for operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine has a sleeve-shaped positioning piston which is connected to a valve stem, has at least two shell-shaped wedge pieces enclosing a stem end of the valve stem, whose radially outer peripheral surfaces have a conical segment which tapers off with increasing distance from the gas exchange valve and which is at least partially surrounded by a conical clamping sleeve having a mating conical inner surface and is connected to the positioning piston. The wedge pieces are axially form-fittingly and rotatably connected to a threaded bolt. A threaded segment is provided on the threaded bolt via which the wedge pieces and the conical clamping sleeve are axially attachable to one another.

Abstract: A method for controlling the opening of at least one intake valve of a combustion chamber in a periodically working piston engine, at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a first partial period of a working period of the piston engine for charging the combustion chamber; and at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a second partial period of the working period, wherein the second partial period begins after the combustion of the combustion chamber charge and has no overlap with the first partial period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple, easy-to-produce, and reliable connection between a shaft of a gas exchange valve and an actuator. This connection is detachable and, as a result, can be connected and disconnected multiple times. It is also possible to dispose the coupling piece on the shaft of the gas exchange valve and provide circumferential grooves on the control element of the actuator.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders are described, each cylinder having at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve having fully variable valve control, a fuel feed to at least one first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders being deactivated, a first quantity of fresh air being drawn in by opening the at least one intake valve of the at least one first cylinder in a first downward movement of the piston of the at least one first cylinder, and a second quantity of fresh air being ejected by opening the at least one exhaust valve with a first upward movement of the piston of the at least one first cylinder.

Abstract: A valve actuator for operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine has a sleeve-shaped positioning piston which is connected to a valve stem, has at least two shell-shaped wedge pieces enclosing a stem end of the valve stem, whose radially outer peripheral surfaces have a conical segment which tapers off with increasing distance from the gas exchange valve and which is at least partially surrounded by a conical clamping sleeve having a mating conical inner surface and is connected to the positioning piston. The wedge pieces are axially form-fittingly and rotatably connected to a threaded bolt. A threaded segment is provided on the threaded bolt via which the wedge pieces and the conical clamping sleeve are axially attachable to one another.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled actuator for actuation of an exhaust-side gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, containing a control piston that is displaceable within a cylinder and, with piston sides facing away from one another, delimits pressure chambers, of which the one pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the closing direction and the other pressure chamber impinges upon the gas exchange valve in the opening direction. In the actuator is provided at least one spring element, which can be brought into a preloaded state by the control piston moving in the closing direction of the gas exchange valve, and whose stored potential energy accelerates the gas exchange valve in the opening direction at least at the beginning of an opening phase, is provided. This results in a reduction in the energy expended in the context of valve actuation.

Abstract: A cylinder head for a combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine is provided, which has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, as well as gas exchange valves which are operable by electrohydraulic valve actuators, some of which gas exchange valves function as inlet valves to control the at least one inlet opening, and some of which gas exchange valves function as outlet valves to control the at least one outlet opening. For the purpose of producing a compact, complete module which, as a separate component, may be tested for reliability and may be installed into the engine block of the internal combustion engine without additional preassembly effort, the cylinder head is provided with at least one high pressure line for supplying fluid under high pressure and at least one recycling line for recycling fluid, which have coupling openings for the hydraulic coupling of the valve actuators, and also means for fastening the valve actuators are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple, easy-to-produce, and reliable connection between a shaft of a gas exchange valve and an actuator. This connection is detachable and, as a result, can be connected and disconnected multiple times. It is also possible to dispose the coupling piece on the shaft of the gas exchange valve and provide circumferential grooves on the control element of the actuator 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection between a shaft end of a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine and a sleeve-shaped actuating element of a valve actuator, which is guided in an axially movable manner within a pressure region, which is able to be pressurized with a pressure medium, of the valve actuator and at least partially surrounds the shaft end. The present invention provides for the connection to be situated outside of the pressure region and in the region of an opening, which is formed on the side of the valve actuator away from the combustion chamber, and is, for example, coaxial to the shaft end.

Abstract: A device for controlling an opening cross section in the combustion cylinder of an internal combustion engine is provided, the device having a gas exchange valve integrated into the combustion cylinder and having an actuator which drives the valve element to execute a closing stroke and an opening stroke. A valve brake which is active during a residual closing stroke of the valve element is provided for the purpose of reducing the impact velocity of the valve closure member of the valve element on the valve seat in the closing stroke of the valve element. The valve brake has a hydraulic damping element with a fluid displacement volume which flows out through a throttle cross section of a throttle opening, and a control unit for controlling the throttle cross section as a function of the viscosity of the displacement volume.

Abstract: A cylinder-piston drive, e.g., an hydraulically controlled actuator for actuating a gas-exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, has an operating piston that is displaceable inside a cylinder and delimits pressure chambers by piston sides facing away from one another. The operating piston has a multipart design and is made up of at least two partial pistons that are placed inside one another, are displaceable relative to each other and strike against one another at stop faces. One pressure chamber is delimited by all, and the other pressure chamber is delimited by only a part, of the partial pistons and the sliding paths of the partial pistons not delimiting the other pressure chamber may be reduced compared to the overall sliding path of the operating piston. At least one stop face, arranged on the cylinder, may be provided against which a stop face of one of the partial pistons strikes after traveling the reduced sliding path.

Abstract: A method for controlling the opening of at least one intake valve of a combustion chamber in a periodically working piston engine, at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a first partial period of a working period of the piston engine for charging the combustion chamber; and at least one intake valve of the combustion chamber being opened during a second partial period of the working period, wherein the second partial period begins after the combustion of the combustion chamber charge and has no overlap with the first partial period.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic valve controller for controlling a gas exchange valve in internal combustion engines, having a hydraulically actuatable control valve including a control valve piston which can be acted upon, via electrically actuatable valves, by a hydraulic medium that is under pressure, and a hydraulically acting valve brake is assigned to the control valve piston. The valve brake (46) includes a temperature compensation for the hydraulic medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine having hydraulic valve actuators each assigned to one gas exchange valve, with one adjusting piston acting on the gas exchange valve and two hydraulic work chambers defined by the adjusting piston the first work chamber acting on the gas exchange valve in the closing direction being constantly filled with fluid that is under pressure, and the second work chamber acting on the gas exchange valve in the opening direction can be filled with and relieved of fluid that is under pressure in alternation via a first and second electrical control valve. Two valve actuators are each triggered in alternation by the same first and the same second control valve, and the switchover of the control valves is performed during the closing state of the two gas exchange valves actuated by these valve actuators.

Abstract: A valve actuator for actuating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, having a sleeve-shaped positioning piston, which is connected to a valve shaft, having at least two shell-shaped wedge parts, enclosing a shaft end of the valve shaft, on whose radial outer peripheral surface a section shaped like a conical casing is implemented and which are axially connected on their inner side to the shaft end in a form-locked and rotatable manner, the valve actuator having a separate threaded sleeve, which has a threaded connection to the positioning piston or a component connected to the positioning piston and also axially clamps the wedge parts to a conical clamp sleeve via their section shaped like a conical casing.