Abstract: A generally cylindrical set of coil windings includes primary coil windings and shield coil windings at a larger radial position than the primary coil windings, and an arcuate or annular central gap that is free of coil windings, has an axial extent of at least ten centimeters, and spans at least a 180° angular interval. Connecting conductors disposed at each edge of the central gap electrically connect selected primary and secondary coil windings. In a scanner setting, a main magnet is disposed outside of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings. In a hybrid scanner setting, an annular ring of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is disposed in the central gap of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings.

Abstract: Light sensors (1) are used in lighting applications, especially in combination with LEDs, to control and/or adapt the color point of light sources. Costs and/or performance of the light sensor (1) are essential in order to guarantee cost-effective light sources with reproducible color points. This aim is achieved by a light sensor (1) comprising a light diffuser (10), an optical non-transparent housing (11) having at least one window (12), at least one interference filter (13) and at least two photo sensors (14). The light diffuser (10) is arranged in such a way that light from outside the optical non-transparent housing (11) has to pass the light diffuser (10) so as to enter the interior of the optical non-transparent housing (11) via the window (12). The interference filter (13) and the at least two photo sensors (14) are arranged in the interior of the optical non-transparent housing (11), which interference filter (13) is arranged between the window (12) and the at least two photo sensors (14).

Abstract: A generally cylindrical set of coil windings includes primary coil windings and shield coil windings at a larger radial position than the primary coil windings, and an arcuate or annular central gap that is free of coil windings, has an axial extent of at least ten centimeters, and spans at least a 180° angular interval. Connecting conductors disposed at each edge of the central gap electrically connect selected primary and secondary coil windings. In a scanner setting, a main magnet is disposed outside of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings. In a hybrid scanner setting, an annular ring of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is disposed in the central gap of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings.

Abstract: In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a MR examination region from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region. The radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises: a magnetic resonance scanner (30) having a cylindrical bore (36) defining a cylinder axis (DA), the magnetic resonance scanner having a gradient coil (10, 10?) defining an isocenter (64) within the bore and an isoplane (66) passing through the isocenter and oriented transverse to the cylinder axis; a ring of radiation detectors (60a, 60b, 60?) arranged concentric with the cylindrical bore and configured to detect radiation emanating from within the bore; and a generally annular electronic circuit board (62, 62?) arranged concentric with the cylindrical bore and centered on the isoplane, the generally annular electronic circuit board operatively connected with the ring of radiation detectors to generate electrical signals indicative of detection of radiation by the ring of radiation detectors.

Abstract: An imaging system includes positron emission tomography (PET) detectors (30) shrouded by broadband galvanic isolation (99) and coincidence detection electronics (50, 50ob), or other radiation detectors. A magnetic resonance scanner includes a main magnet (12, 14) and magnetic field gradient assembly (20, 20?, 22, 24) configured to acquire imaging data from a magnetic resonance examination region at least partially overlapping the examination region surrounded by the PET detectors. A radio frequency coil (80, 100) has plurality of conductors (66, 166) and a radio frequency screen (88, 188, 188EB, 188F) substantially surrounding the conductors to shield the coil at the magnetic resonance frequency. The radiation detectors are outside of the radio frequency screen. Magnetic resonance-compatible radiation collimators or shielding (60, 62) containing an electrically non-conductive and non-ferromagnetic heavy atom oxide material are disposed with the radiation detectors.

Abstract: In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a MR examination region from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region. The radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.

Abstract: A nuclear detector module (24) is housed within an electrically conductive hollow resonator element (18) that is to be used in a combined MR and nuclear imaging unit. The resonator element has an inner face (26) which is radiation transparent facing an examination region (14) and a plurality of other faces (28) disposed facing and spaced from an RF screen (22).

Abstract: A radiation detector comprises: a substrate (54); a two-dimensional array of solid state detector elements (50) disposed on or in the substrate and defining a detector array area (52); electrodes (Ec, Ea) disposed on or in the substrate; and electrically conductive connecting lines (60, 64) disposed on or in the substrate and operatively electrically connecting the solid state detector elements and the electrodes, the electrically conductive connecting lines arranged to define a maximum area in conjunction with any one conducting solid state detector element that is less than or about one tenth of the detector array area. An imaging system comprises an MR scanner (10) and a PET or SPECT imaging system arranged to have some interaction with a magnetic field generated by the MR scanner, the PET or SPECT imaging system including scintillator elements (40) and the aforesaid radiation detectors arranged to detect scintillations generated in the scintillator elements.

Abstract: In nuclear imaging, when a gamma ray strikes a scintillator, a burst of visible light is created. That light is detected by a photodetector and processed by downstream electronics. It is desirable to harness as much of the burst of light as possible and get it to the photodetector. In a detector element (18), a first reflective layer (44) partially envelops a scintillation crystal (34). The first reflective layer (44) diffuses the scintillated light. A second reflective layer (46) and a support component reflective layer (48) prevent the light from leaving the scintillation crystal (34) by any route except a light emitting face (36) of the scintillator (34). In another embodiment, a light concentrator (50) is coupled to the scintillator (34) and channels the diffuse light onto a light sensitive portion of a photodetector (38). The reflective layers (44, 46, 48) and the concentrator (50) ensure that all or nearly all of the light emitted by the scintillator (34) is received by the photodetector (38).

Abstract: In a hybrid PET-MR system, PET detector elements (30) are added in the bore (14), in close proximity to the gradient coils (16). Fluid coolant is supplied to transfer heat from the PET detector elements (30). Thermal insulation (80) insulates the fluid coolant and the PET detector elements (30) from the gradient coils (16). In some embodiments, a first coolant path (90) is in thermal communication with the electronics, a second coolant path (92) is in thermal communication with the light detectors, and a thermal barrier (94, 96) is arranged between the first and second coolant paths such that the first and second coolant paths can be at different temperatures (Te, Td). In some embodiments a sealed heat pipe (110) is in thermal communication with a heat sink such that working fluid in the heat pipe undergoes vaporization/condensation cycling to transfer heat from the detector elements to the heat sink.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical set of coil windings (10, 30, 80) includes primary coil windings (12, 32, 82) and shield coil windings (14, 34, 84) at a larger radial position than the primary coil windings, and an arcuate or annular central gap (16, 36, 86) that is free of coil windings, has an axial extent (W) of at least ten centimeters, and spans at least a 180° angular interval. Connecting conductors (24, 44, 94) disposed at each edge of the central gap electrically connect selected primary and secondary coil windings. In a scanner setting, a main magnet (62, 64) is disposed outside of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings. In a hybrid scanner setting, an annular ring of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors (66) is disposed in the central gap of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings.

Abstract: The invention relates to composing a lighting atmosphere from an abstract description for example a lighting atmosphere specified in XML, wherein the lighting atmosphere is generated by several lighting devices, by automatically rendering the desired lighting atmosphere from the abstract description. The abstract description describes the type of light with certain lighting parameters desired at certain semantic locations at certain semantic times. This abstract atmosphere description is automatically transferred to a specific instance of a lighting system (14, 16, 18). The invention has the main advantage that it allows to create light scenes and lighting atmospheres at a high level of abstraction without requiring the definition of a lighting atmosphere or scene by setting the intensity, color, etc. for single lighting units or devices which can be very time consuming and cumbersome, particularly with large and complex lighting systems comprising many lighting devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical detector device (1) for generating at least one electrical output signal in response to a received beam of light, comprising an optical band-pass filter (3a), adapted to receive the beam of light and to provide a filtered beam of light, which filter (3a) has a transmission wavelength which increases in direction of at least one axis (4) and an array of detector elements (2) arranged in direction of the axis (4) to receive the filtered beam of light for generating the electrical output signal.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical set of coil windings includes primary coil windings and shield coil windings at a larger radial position than the primary coil windings, and an arcuate or annular central gap that is free of coil windings, has an axial extent of at least ten centimeters, and spans at least a 180° angular interval. Connecting conductors disposed at each edge of the central gap electrically connect selected primary and secondary coil windings. In a scanner setting, a main magnet is disposed outside of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings. In a hybrid scanner setting, an annular ring of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors is disposed in the central gap of the generally cylindrical set of coil windings.

Abstract: In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a MR examination region from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region. The radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.

Abstract: A light-emitting device for emitting light having a desired color point, comprising at least one solid-state light source (1), at least one light-converting element (5), a light guiding arrangement (2) and a switch control unit (4), wherein the solid-state light source (1) is provided for emitting primary radiation (20), the light guiding arrangement (2) arranged between the solid-state light source (1) and the light-converting element (5) has at least one electro-optical switch (31) for controllably splitting the primary radiation (20) into a first portion (21) and a second portion (22), the switch control unit (4) is provided for controlling the electro-optical switch or switches (31) for variably adjusting the ratio between the first (21) and the second portion (22) of the primary radiation (20), and the light-converting element (5) is provided for the partial or complete absorption of at least a first portion (21) of the primary radiation (20) and for the re-emission of secondary radiation.

Abstract: There is suggested a tracheostomy tube comprising a sealing means, said sealing means sealingly enclosing the tracheostomy tube transversally to its longitudinal extension, the sealing means being configured as a sealing bell whose rear end portion encloses the tracheostomy tube and whose front end portion comprises a sealing lip to be brought into contact with a neck area of a patient. The sealing bell forms a reception space in which an absorbent insert can be accommodated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a sealing means and to the use of an absorbent insert together with the tracheostomy tube and the sealing means.

Abstract: In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet (10, 110) configured to generate a static magnetic field (B0) at least in a MR examination region (12) from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors (40, 41, 140) are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region (70). The radiation 5 detectors include electron multiplier elements (60, 160) having a direction of electron acceleration (ae) arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field (B0). In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces (14, 15) disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic 10 resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays (40, 41) of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting system with multiple controllable light sources 3a, 3b and a system therefor. According to a first aspect, influence data of the lighting system are obtained, which data represent the effect of one or more of the light sources 3a, 3b on the illumination of one or more sections of an illuminated environment. In an optimization method, sets of control commands are continuously determined, a predicted light distribution for these control commands is determined from the influence data, and a colorimetric difference between the predicted light distribution and a target light distribution is determined. A plurality of adjustment steps are performed to minimize the colorimetric difference. According to a second aspect, a neural network is trained with the influence data and a set of control commands for controlling the lighting system is determined with the use of the neural network.