Abstract: An optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus, an ultrasonic transceiver apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an associated production method are disclosed. The optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus includes a substrate made of a semiconductor material; a carrier layer arranged on the substrate; and at least one transmitter-optical waveguide made of a semiconductor material with a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the carrier layer. At least one side of the waveguide is at least partially surrounded by the carrier layer. The waveguide is configured at an end facing toward the examination region for a decoupling of the light beams into the examination region for generating the ultrasonic waves in the examination region by way of the decoupled light beams for an optoacoustic imaging and/or has, on the end facing toward the examination region, an optical absorption layer for such a conversion of the light beams.

Abstract: An ablation device includes a shaft and a radiofrequency (RF) emitter positioned in the shaft that delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to create an ablation volume. The ablation device also includes an imaging sensor positioned in the tubular shaft configured to obtain imaging data of the ablation volume.

Abstract: For a simple monitoring of a robotic system that is configured for robot-assisted actuation of a movement of a medical object in a hollow organ of a patient, the robotic system includes at least one drive system, a robot control unit, and an acoustic sensor. A method is provided and includes receiving, by the acoustic sensor, acoustic signals of the robotic system during the operation of the robotic system for moving the medical object. At least one signal pattern is recognized in the received acoustic signals. The at least one recognized signal pattern is evaluated with respect to an associated action flow of at least one component of the robotic system. The method includes checking whether the action flow is an intended action flow, and actuating an action if the action flow is unintended.

Abstract: A method for providing a specification include receiving a planning dataset, wherein the planning dataset has a pre-ascertained mapping and/or a model of an examination object. The method further includes capturing selection information relating to one or more available medical object(s) and determining the specification by applying a specification function to input data, wherein the input data is based on the planning dataset and the selection information, wherein the specification has suitability information and a desired path, wherein the desired path has a plurality of spatial and/or temporal control points, which control points specify desired positionings for the one available medical object or one of the plurality of available medical objects respectively, and wherein the suitability information assesses suitability of the at least one available medical object for the desired path. The method further includes providing the specification as output data of the specification function.

Abstract: A method for evaluating image data of a patient showing a target region to be treated with an embolizing agent includes providing a three-dimensional time-resolved image data set of a vascular system portion of the patient. A structural parameter that describes a geometry of at least the vascular system portion and/or a basic information item including dynamic parameters that describe hemodynamics in the vascular system portion is established from the image data set by an analysis algorithm. An embolization information item describing a plurality of embolizing agents that are to be used is provided. An actuation information item describing a suitable composition of the plurality of embolizing agents, for an intervention facility used for carrying out the treatment is established by an establishing algorithm that uses the basic information item and the embolization information item, and the actuation information item is provided to the intervention facility.

Abstract: A medical object for arrangement in an object under examination includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber is configured to contact at least one light source optically. The medical object further includes multiple photoacoustic absorbers that are arranged in sections along a direction of longitudinal extension of the optical fiber and/or along a periphery of the medical object. The multiple photoacoustic absorbers are configured to be arranged at least in part in the object under examination. The optical fiber is configured to conduct an excitation light emitted by the at least one light source to the multiple photoacoustic absorbers. The multiple photoacoustic absorbers are configured to be excited by the excitation light for the photoacoustic emission of ultrasound.

Abstract: A medical apparatus having a light emission unit, an ultrasound transducer, an instrument channel, and a hollow needle is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to be arranged at least partly in an examination region of an examination object. The light emission unit is configured to emit excitation light. The excitation light is configured to excite an optoacoustic emission of ultrasound. The light emission unit is arranged at least partly in the hollow needle. The hollow needle is arranged at least partly for movement in the instrument channel. The instrument channel has an opening for bringing the hollow needle and the light emission unit out on a distal section of the apparatus. The ultrasound transducer is arranged on the distal section of the apparatus. The hollow needle is configured to move out at least partly from instrument channel through the opening. The ultrasound transducer is configured to receive the ultrasound.

Abstract: An optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus, an ultrasonic transceiver apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an associated production method are disclosed. The optical waveguide-transmitter apparatus includes a substrate made of a semiconductor material; a carrier layer arranged on the substrate; and at least one transmitter-optical waveguide made of a semiconductor material with a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the carrier layer. At least one side of the waveguide is at least partially surrounded by the carrier layer. The waveguide is configured at an end facing toward the examination region for a decoupling of the light beams into the examination region for generating the ultrasonic waves in the examination region by way of the decoupled light beams for an optoacoustic imaging and/or has, on the end facing toward the examination region, an optical absorption layer for such a conversion of the light beams.

Abstract: A hybrid NIRF/IVUS imaging probe containing i) a spatially-truncated optical lens a substantially-planar surface of which is inclined with respect to an axis to reflect light, transmitted between proximal and distal ends of the probe, internally into a body of the lens, and ii) an acoustic transducer disposed sequentially with the optical lens on the axis of the probe while, at the same time, the optical and electrical members of the probe transmitting the radiative and mechanical energies (which the probe exchanges with a target bodily vessel) are parallel to one another within the housing of the probe. A method for operating the probe resulting in formation of spatially co-registered optical and acoustic images of the target. Related imaging system and computer-program product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) and a corresponding method for thermoacoustic sensing, in particular thermoacoustic imaging, the device (100) comprising: a) an irradiation unit (10) configured to generate electromagnetic and/or particle energy exhibiting a first modulation, the first modulation comprising at least one frequency and to continuously emit the energy towards a target (1), whereby acoustic waves are continuously generated in the target, the acoustic waves exhibiting a second modulation, the second modulation comprising the at least one frequency and/or a harmonic frequency of the at least one frequency; b) a detection unit (20) configured to simultaneously detect the acoustic waves exhibiting the second modulation while the energy exhibiting the first modulation is being continuously emitted towards the target (1); and c) a processing unit (30) configured to determine at least one thermoacoustic value of an amplitude and/or a phase of the second modulation of the acoustic waves at the at l

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining information regarding the location of energy deposition of an ion beam, in particular a proton beam, in an absorptive medium, in particular in the tissue of a patient undergoing radiation therapy, comprising the following steps: generating an intensity modulated ion beam, wherein the intensity modulation comprises one or more modulation frequency components, detecting an acoustic signal attributable to the time dependent energy deposition in said absorptive medium by said intensity modulated ion beam using at least one detection apparatus, said detection apparatus being preferably configured for extracting at least one modulation frequency component of the acoustic signal corresponding to a respective one of the one or more modulation frequency components of said intensity modulation, or a harmonic thereof, and deriving information regarding the location of the energy deposition based, at least in part, on a time lag between the timing of the intensity modulation of sai

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining information regarding the location of energy deposition of an ion beam, in particular a proton beam, in an absorptive medium, in particular in the tissue of a patient undergoing radiation therapy, comprising the following steps: generating an intensity modulated ion beam, wherein the intensity modulation comprises one or more modulation frequency components, detecting an acoustic signal attributable to the time dependent energy deposition in said absorptive medium by said intensity modulated ion beam using at least one detection apparatus, said detection apparatus being preferably configured for extracting at least one modulation frequency component of the acoustic signal corresponding to a respective one of the one or more modulation frequency components of said intensity modulation, or a harmonic thereof, and deriving information regarding the location of the energy deposition based, at least in part, on a time lag between the timing of the intensity modulation of sai

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) and a corresponding method for thermoacoustic sensing, in particular thermoacoustic imaging, the device (100) comprising: a) an irradiation unit (10) configured to generate electromagnetic and/or particle energy exhibiting a first modulation, the first modulation comprising at least one frequency and to continuously emit the energy towards a target (1), whereby acoustic waves are continuously generated in the target, the acoustic waves exhibiting a second modulation, the second modulation comprising the at least one frequency and/or a harmonic frequency of the at least one frequency; b) a detection unit (20) configured to simultaneously detect the acoustic waves exhibiting the second modulation while the energy exhibiting the first modulation is being continuously emitted towards the target (1); and c) a processing unit (30) configured to determine at least one thermoacoustic value of an amplitude and/or a phase of the second modulation of the acoustic waves at the at l

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device and a corresponding method for detecting, in particular imaging, thermoacoustic responses of a medium, comprising a detector for detecting acoustic waves, in particular ultrasonic waves, generated in the medium upon absorption of energy from an electromagnetic field and/or from an alternating magnetic field comprising electromagnetic waves or magnetic waves, respectively, of a first frequency. In order to allow for a detection of thermoacoustic responses of the medium, in particular upon absorption of energy from continuous wave (CW) electromagnetic fields and/or from alternating magnetic fields, the detector is designed for detecting acoustic waves of a second frequency which is higher than, in particular twice, the first frequency.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (100), configured for thermoacoustic tomographic imaging a region of interest (2) in an object (1), comprises a source device (10) being arranged for emitting an electromagnetic energy input into the region of interest (2), a detector device (20) being arranged for detecting mechanical wave response signals generated in the region of interest (2) along multiple angular projection directions in response to the electromagnetic energy input, and an image data acquisition and processing device (30) being arranged for providing tomographic image data representing the image of the region of interest (2) on the basis of the mechanical wave response signals, wherein the source device (10) is adapted for continuously emitting the electromagnetic energy input with a predetermined input modulation, and the image data acquisition and processing device (30) is adapted for converting the mechanical wave response signals into the frequency domain and for performing data processing and image reconstructi