Abstract: An ultrasound imaging assembly is disclosed, comprising an image processing unit (26) for receiving and for evaluating at least one set of ultrasound data resulting from an ultrasound scan of a volume of interest (31) and for providing corresponding image data on the basis of the ultrasound data. The assembly comprises a display unit (18) for displaying an ultrasound image (30) on the basis of the image data, and an evaluation unit (28) adapted to detect whether a shadowed area (32) is present within the volume of interest (31) on the basis of the ultrasound data, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to determine ultrasound image data of a two-dimensional slice of the shadowed area and wherein the display unit is adapted to display a graphical representation of a corresponding sectional view of the shadowed area within the ultrasound image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a microcell for a caesium atomic micro-clock having an inversion temperature above 80° C., comprising a step of generating a caesium vapour by heating a caesium-containing pellet, the buffer gas used containing neon and helium.

Abstract: An image processor (IP) and an image processing method to support cardio- or neuro-interventions. An imager (100) acquires a series of fluoroscopic images (F) whilst an interventional tool progresses through a region of interest (ROI) such as a cardiac vasculature. Image processor (IP) operates to select from a plurality of stored angiograms (A) previously acquired of the region of interest a contextual one from which a contextual roadmap (RM) can be extracted. The contextual roadmap is selected to fit to both, a current cardiac phase and the current position of the device (GW). The selected contextual angiogram and its contextual roadmap is capable of showing the outlines of the vasculature (ROD at the current device position at high contrast.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate for display a plurality of vasculature (115) views (170a-c) alongside a live fluoroscopy image (190a). The views are selected in such a way that they allow visualizing the 3D structure of the vasculature segment in which the device (117) is currently navigating. The view is best relative to one or a weighted average of a plurality of goodness of view standards. As the device progresses and new fluoroscopy images (190b-c) are acquired, the views (170i-k) are updated accordingly.

Abstract: A method of removing di-, tri- and tetra-valent cations from aqueous media with a relatively short residence time, by causing cations and/or hydrous metal oxides to bind to a negatively charged media immobilized on a support structure thereby incorporating the cations into or onto the structure and removing them from the aqueous media. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a structure useful for removing di-, tri- and tetra-valent cations from aqueous media. The structure is designed to facilitate adherence of cations and/or hydrous metal oxides to the structure thereby incorporating the cations into or onto the structure and removing them from the aqueous media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vascular treatment outcome visualization. To provide an enhanced possibility to check that a vascular treatment has been correctly performed, it is proposed to provide (112) a first image data (114) of a region of interest of a vascular structure at a first point in time, and to provide (116) at least one second image data (118) of the region of interest of the vascular structure at a second point in time, wherein a vascular treatment has been applied to the vascular structure between the first point in time and the second point in time. Further, the first and the at least one second image data are combined (120) generating a joint outcome visualization image data (122) and the joint outcome visualization image data is displayed (124).

Abstract: A medical viewing system with an X-ray image acquisition device for acquiring angiograms and interventional live images of vessels is adapted for generating a region of interest border into which an object referenced by an object-based registration process must extend in order to achieve an accurate registration of vessel trees extracted from the angiogram and the live images. The region of interest border is then overlaid onto the vessel tree images and the live images. The medical viewing system reminds the person accomplishing the intervention of the importance of pushing the object far enough into the image, while being discrete enough to be ignored if preferred, thus yielding in a reliable and precise road mapping processing.

Abstract: A process for a purification of water with multiple contaminants including dissolved solids. The process may involve one or more steps of separating oil and water, metals precipitation, dissolved air flotation (DAF), filtration, forward or reverse osmosis and crystallization. An improved DAF unit is described which increases air dissolution to oxidize impurities and improve flotation. Various embodiments of staged osmotic membrane systems are provided to generate an essentially pure water stream and a highly concentrated solute stream. In some embodiments, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration units are employed in a staged manner. In other embodiments, all stages are reverse osmosis units and the osmotic pressure of each stage is adjusted by the provision of a solution on the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis membrane using nanofiltration membranes. Various recycle options are employed to improve the efficiency of the systems.

Abstract: To provide an improved method for achieving DSA images where the effect of residual motions in cardiac DSA during the perfusion phase is reduced and in order to display subtracted images containing less motion artefacts, a method of performing digital subtraction angiography DSA in an imaging apparatus comprises the steps of generating a first image sequence of mask images (10) of a subject to be examined, generating at least one first contrast image (22) at a first phase (16) whereby in the first contrast image part of the subject has a different contrast than in said first image sequence, subtracting the mask images (10) from the at least one first contrast image (22) generating a first DSA image sequence (24), subtracting the DSA images of the first DSA image sequence (24) from the first contrast image (22) within the first phase (16) generating a sequence of extended mask images (32); generating a second contrast image (34) with the imaging system at a second phase (18), said second phase (18) being separ

Abstract: A method for dynamically visualizing coronary information and an apparatus adapted to implement such method is described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a first cardiac stage and second dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a second cardiac stage. Then, the two data sets are visualized continuously the in a superimposed presentation, wherein the first cardiac data and the second cardiac data corresponding to a same phase within the cardiac cycle are visualized simultaneously. In this way for example information about the vessel geometry may be immediately linked with information about the muscle irrigation or perfusion. Furthermore, this useful information may be displayed in a high-contrasted and low-noise presentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to automatic absorption means positioning in X-ray image acquisition. To improve image quality and to optimize the radiation exposure of an object, optimal position for X-ray absorption means is provided. A first sequence (113) of X-ray images is acquired (112). For each of the images, the optimal position (115) for X-ray absorption means is determined (114). A second sequence (117) of X-ray images is associated 10 (116) with corresponding images of the first sequence. The determined optimal position for the absorption means (14) of the associated corresponding images of the first sequence (113) is selected for an acquisition of the second sequence (117). Hence, a situation-specific database with optimized positions for the absorption means is generated on behalf of the first sequence in order to provide the generated position information for the actual acquisition of a 15 second sequence of images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device 10 for automatically identifying a part 20a, 20b of an anatomy structure comprising several parts 20a, 20b, in which anatomy structure an intervention device 21 resides. The device 10 comprises a feature extraction unit 11 and an anatomy part classification unit 13. The feature extraction unit 11 uses provided image content data ICD to extract at least one characterizing feature DS of the appearance of 10 the intervention device 21. The anatomy part classification unit 13 correlates the at least one characterizing feature DS with provided classifier data CD which are characteristic for a projection feature of the intervention device 21 viewed under certain geometry of an imaging system 30. After correlating, the anatomy part classification unit 13 determines in which part 20a, 20b of the anatomy structure comprising several parts 20a, 20b the intervention device 2115 is located.

Abstract: The invention relates to the representation of blood flow-related information using an X-ray image acquisition device. In order to provide an improved method in an X-ray imaging system for representing the blood flow, for vessel analysis purposes for example, a device and a method are provided where X-ray images are used to determine the spatial distribution of blood velocity. Using this information it is possible to artificially synthesize a sound defined by the visual spectrum determined by the velocity distribution. Providing sound information based on X-ray imaging technique allows cardiologists and neurologists, for example, an enhanced way of evaluating vascular lesions and a better control on quality of resulting blood flow.

Abstract: To provide an improved method for achieving DSA images where the effect of residual motions in cardiac DSA during the perfusion phase is reduced and in order to display subtracted images containing less motion artefacts, a method of performing digital subtraction angiography DSA in an imaging apparatus comprises the steps of generating a first image sequence of mask images (10) of a subject to be examined, generating at least one first contrast image (22) at a first phase (16) whereby in the first contrast image part of the subject has a different contrast than in said first image sequence, subtracting the mask images (10) from the at least one first contrast image (22) generating a first DSA image sequence (24), subtracting the DSA images of the first DSA image sequence (24) from the first contrast image (22) within the first phase (16) generating a sequence of extended mask images (32); generating a second contrast image (34) with the imaging system at a second phase (18), said second phase (18) being separ

Abstract: A medical viewing system with an X-ray image acquisition device for acquiring angiograms and interventional live images of vessels is adapted for generating a region of interest border into which an object referenced by an object-based registration process must extend in order to achieve an accurate registration of vessel trees extracted from the angiogram and the live images. The region of interest border is then overlaid onto the vessel tree images and the live images. The medical viewing system reminds the person accomplishing the intervention of the importance of pushing the object far enough into the image, while being discrete enough to be ignored if preferred, thus yielding in a reliable and precise road mapping processing.

Abstract: A method for dynamically visualizing coronary information and an apparatus adapted to implement such method is described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a first cardiac stage and second dynamic cardiac data is acquired during a second cardiac stage. Then, the two data sets are visualized continuously the in a superimposed presentation, wherein the first cardiac data and the second cardiac data corresponding to a same phase within the cardiac cycle are visualized simultaneously. In this way for example information about the vessel geometry may be immediately linked with information about the muscle irrigation or perfusion. Furthermore, this useful information may be displayed in a high-contrasted and low-noise presentation.

Abstract: A method to enhance the formation of nucleation sites on at least one narrow silicon structure comprises the step: forming at least one nucleation region (206/208): masking the at least one narrow silicon structure (202) with a mask (302); treating the at least one nucleation region (206/208) to enhance an ability of said region to form C54 nucleation sites; and removing the mask from the at least one narrow silicon structure (202).

Abstract: A method to enhance the formation of nucleation sites on at least one narrow silicon structure comprises the steps: forming at least one nucleation region (206/208); masking the at least one narrow silicon structure (202) with a mask (302); treating the at least one nucleation region (206/208) to enhance an ability of said region to form C54 nucleation sites; and removing the mask from the at least one narrow silicon structure (202).