Abstract: A method for manufacturing a membrane assembly for EUV lithography, the method including: providing a stack having a planar substrate and at least one membrane layer, wherein the planar substrate includes an inner region and a border region around the inner region; and selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate. The membrane assembly includes: a membrane formed from the at least one membrane layer; and a border holding the membrane, the border formed from the border region of the planar substrate. The stack is provided with a mechanical protection material configured to mechanically protect the border region during the selectively removing the inner region of the planar substrate.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus may include a mechanism for generating a plasma, a processing platform for supporting a substrate to be processed, and a voltage waveform generator having an output electrically coupled to the processing platform. The voltage waveform generator includes a plurality of first buck converters arranged in parallel and coupled to the output. The first buck converters include actively switchable semiconductor switches. A control unit is configured to operate the actively switchable semiconductor switches through pulse width modulation signals, and the control unit is configured to operate the plurality of first buck converters in an interleaved manner.

Abstract: Perfusion angiography combined with photoplethysmography imaging for peripheral vascular disease assessment A device (13) and method for performing perfusion imaging receive image sequences that are acquired simultaneously by an X-ray imaging apparatus (2) and by a photoplethysmography imaging apparatus (3). When temporally aligned, changes in the perfusion states of a perfused organic tissue over time are extracted from the two image sequences and an image is generated for display on a display unit (5) which indicates the changes in the perfusion states at various locations of the perfused organ tissue, thereby capturing both deep organ tissue and superficial organ tissue perfusion properties. A diminution in an image signal strength in the photoplethysmography images caused by a passage of a bolus comprising a previously administered contrast agent (10) can be used to align the two concurrently acquired image sequences in time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to guidance during a medical intervention. In order to provide an improved navigation support with a facilitated setup, a system (10) for navigation support is provided. An image data input (12) receives a plurality of acquired 2D X-ray images of a subject's body from different angles. A set of markers, which are visible in X-ray images and which are detectable by a navigation system, is assigned to the subject. A marker detecting arrangement (16) is provided that detects a current spatial location of the markers assigned to the subject. A data processor (14) reconstructs a 3D volume of the subject based on the plurality of 2D X-ray images. At least a part of the markers is arranged outside the volume covered by the reconstructed 3D volume of the subject, while the markers are visible in the 2D X-ray images.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating and providing one or more quality measures of a mapping function (for mapping electrical responses of an electrode to a predicted position of that electrode within an anatomical cavity) to a user, such as a clinician. Each quality measure predicts or indicates a quality of a mapping function with respect to a particular part of an anatomical cavity, for instance, indicating a predicted accuracy of the mapping function for predicting a position of an electrode located within a particular portion of the anatomical cavity. A user-perceptible output is provided that indicates the quality measure for the user.

Abstract: The application relates to the problem of navigating a surgical instrument (at 301, 311) towards a region-of-interest (at 312) in endoscopic surgery when an image (300) provided by the endoscope is obscured at least partly by obscuring matter (at 303), wherein the obscuring matter is a leaking body fluid, debris or smoke caused by ablation. To address this problem, a computer-implemented method is proposed, wherein, upon detecting that the image from the endoscope is at least partly obscured, a second image is determined based on a sequence of historic images and based on the current position and orientation of the endoscope. Furthermore, a virtual image (310) is generated based on the determined second image.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining a shape of an interventional device. A mapping function is used to predict the position of an electrode, mounted on the interventional device, as the interventional device is moved within an anatomical cavity—to thereby form a sequence of predicted positions. The sequence of predicted positions is then processed to predict a shape of the interventional device.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating a mapping function for mapping measurements taken at an electrode within crossing electric fields to a position or positions within a multidimensional co-ordinate system. The values for coefficients of the mapping function are generated using a first machine-learning algorithm, which receives, as input, example measurements (or responses) of the electrode and provides, as output, values for the coefficients for the mapping function. There is proposed a method and processing system for carrying out this mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates a system for implanting an implantable device in bone tissue, a processing unit for such system, a method of implanting an implantable device and a method of providing information for an implanting of an implantable device. In view of the finding that a fat content in cancellous bone is higher than a fat content in compact bone, the lipids fraction, which can be determined by optical means, e.g. spectroscopy, can be used to determine correct screw placement in healthy bone.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for investigating a tissue of a subject by way of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the tissue including a fluorescent agent adapted to absorb light in a first wavelength range and emit light in a second wavelength range, different to the first. The system includes a cannula having a distal end to be positioned adjacent the tissue and an internal cavity for providing a suction force to the tissue. The system further includes a light source adapted to generate light at the first wavelength range and a fiber optic element to be positioned adjacent the tissue. The fiber optic element is adapted to receive a light signal from the fluorescent agent, the light signal comprising light in the first and second wavelength ranges. The system further includes a processing system adapted to determine a concentration of the fluorescent agent in the tissue based on the light signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (30) for determining a state of tissue. The detection apparatus (30) comprises a fluorescence spectrum providing unit (2, 3) for providing a fluorescence spectrum of the tissue, a differentiation unit (4) for generating a derivative of the fluorescence spectrum, and a tissue state determination unit (5) for determining the state of the tissue from the derivative. This allows determining the state of the tissue, even if characteristics, which are related to the state of the tissue, are only hardly visible or not visible at all in the fluorescence spectrum. The reliability of determining the state of the tissue, for instance, whether the tissue is cancerous or not, can therefore be improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (8) for assisting a user in placing a penetrating device in tissue like a pedicle screw (7) in a vertebra’s pedicle. The system generates a virtual view (20) from a penetrating device tip perspective within the tissue in the direction of a path (21) through a model of the tissue. The virtual view is generated based on tracking information indicating a pose of the penetrating device, the model and the path, wherein the virtual view is configured such that it indicates a direction in which the user should move the penetrating device while placing it in the tissue. For instance, it can show a virtual tunnel (801) which is arranged along the path. If a user like a surgeon is provided with such a virtual view, the user can position the penetrating device along the path with a significantly increased accuracy.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.

Abstract: A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining information relating to a suspected occluding structure. It is described to provide (210) a spectral resolving unit with at least one broadband radiation. The at least one broadband radiation comprises a first broadband radiation acquired from a region of interest within a vascular structure. An occluding structure is suspected to be located within the region of interest and wherein the first broadband radiation is associated with the suspected occluding structure. At least one spectrally resolved data set is determined (220) on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation, wherein the at least one spectrally resolved data set comprises a first spectrally resolved data set determined on the basis of the first broadband radiation. A processing unit is provided (230) with the at least one spectrally resolved data set on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation.

Abstract: An orthopedic pin is for optically analyzing a bone region. An optical fiber arrangement extends within an elongate shaft from a distal end to a proximal end. There is a coupling at an intermediate position along the shaft, and the optical fiber arrangement comprises a first portion on one side of the coupling and a second portion on the other side of the coupling. The coupling allows relative rotation between portions of the shaft at opposite sides of the coupling, while maintaining optical coupling between the first and second portions of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining information relating to a suspected occluding structure. It is described to provide (210) a spectral resolving unit with at least one broadband radiation. The at least one broadband radiation comprises a first broadband radiation acquired from a region of interest within a vascular structure. An occluding structure is suspected to be located within the region of interest and wherein the first broadband radiation is associated with the suspected occluding structure. At least one spectrally resolved data set is determined (220) on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation, wherein the at least one spectrally resolved data set comprises a first spectrally resolved data set determined on the basis of the first broadband radiation. A processing unit is provided (230) with the at least one spectrally resolved data set on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation.

Abstract: A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

Abstract: A system may generally comprise a tracking device, an ultrasound device and a processing unit. A position and orientation of the ultrasound device may be traceable by the tracking device. The processing unit may be configured (i) to receive 3D information of a region of interest in relation to a marker, with both the region of interest and the marker being located within a body, (ii) to determine the position of the marker relative to the ultrasound device based on an ultrasound image of the body including the marker, and (iii) to determine the position and orientation of the ultrasound device relative to the tracking device. The system may further comprise a visualization device and the processing unit may further be configured to generate a visualization of the region of interest in relation to an outer surface of the body.

Abstract: A system is suggested comprising an optical sensing means and a processing unit. The optical sensing means may include an optical guide with a distal end, wherein the optical guide may be configured to be arranged in a device to be inserted into tissue in a region of interest. The processing unit may be configured to receive information of a region of interest including different tissue types as well as of a path through the tissues, to determine a sequence of tissue types along the path, to determine a tissue type at the distal end of the optical guide based on information received from the optical sensing means, to compare the determined tissue type with the tissue types on the path, to determine possible positions of the distal end of the optical guide on the path based on the comparison of tissue types, and to generate a signal indicative for the possible positions.