77results about How to "High spatial resolution" patented technology

Embodiments of the present invention provide improved visualization systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery. Some embodiments include the use of reverse kinematic positioning of camera systems to provide rapid and manual surgeon controllable positioning of camera systems as well as display of 3D surgical area images along the line of sight between a surgeon's eyes and the surgical area itself.

A miniaturized terahertz radiation source based on the Smith-Purcell effect is provided, in which, from a focused electron source, a high-energy bundle of electrons is transmitted at a defined distance over a reflection diffraction grating composed of transversely disposed grating rods, so that, in response to oscillating image charges, electromagnetic waves of one wavelength are emitted, the wavelength being adjustable as a function of the periodicity of the lines and of the electron velocity. The elements of the radiation source, such as field emitter (1), electrostatic lens (4), beam deflector (5), grating (7) of metal, and a second anode (8), are integrated on a semiconductor chip using additive nanolithographic methods. The field electron source is constructed to project, as a wire, out of the surface, using additive nanolithography, and is made of readily conductive material having stabilizing series resistance. The wire is constructed, using computer-controlled deposition lithography, in a straight or curved, free-standing design. In its surface area, the base material bears a conductor structure for the electrical terminals and connections (2), including controllable voltage sources (3) for supplying the field emitter tips (1), lens (4), and control electrodes (5, 8). The terahertz radiation source is designed to be a powerful component that is available in modular form and is usable in any spatial situation.

The invention concerns a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for acquisition and generation of a time-resolved image series of an anatomical organ with a quasi-periodical movement in a subject, k-space is sampled in segments with a number of partial data sets, with the sampling points of each partial data set corresponding to grid points of a Cartesian sampling grid of a k-space segment, and the Cartesian sampling grids of the k-space segments being rotated relative to one another. A series of sub-data sets is incompletely acquired for each partial data set using alternating sampling schemes. Each incomplete sub-data set is associated with one of the individual images. For at least some of the partial data sets, complete sub-data sets are reconstructed from the incomplete sub-data sets. For the reconstruction of the individual images, in each of the individual images, at least some of the complete sub-data sets that are associated with this individual image are used.

Systems and methods for fast and sensitive standoff surface-hazard detection with high data throughput, high spatial resolution and high degree of pointing flexibility. The system comprises a first hand-held unit that directs an excitation beam onto a surface that is located a distance away from the first unit and an optical subsystem that captures scattered radiation from the surface as a result of the beam of light. The first unit is connected via a link that includes a bundle of optical fibers, to a second unit, called the processing unit. The processing unit comprises a fiber-coupled spectrograph to convert scattered radiation to spectral data, and a processor that analyzes the collected spectral data to detect and/or identify a hazardous substance. The second unit may be contained within a body-wearable housing or apparatus so that the first unit and second unit together form a man-portable detection assembly. In one embodiment, the system can continuously and without interruptions scan a surface from a 1-meter standoff while generating Raman spectral-frames at rates of 25 Hz.

This invention pertains to a novel behavioral monitoring system useful for the analysis of complex behaviors in a number of animal species. The monitoring systems of this invention allow continuous monitoring of feeding, drinking and movement of animals with high temporal and spatial resolution. In certain embodiments, teh system comprises an enclosure comprising: an animal position indicator; a food consumption indicator; and a fluid consumption indicator, where the system reports behavioral data at a temporal resolution of 20 seconds or lower.

An impingement cooling system for cooling electronic components includes a nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with a source of cooling fluid, each nozzle including a deflection structure that deforms above a threshold temperature. A plurality of thermally conductive pins respectively are in thermal contact with the deflection structures and conduct heat from at least one of the electronic components to the deflection structures. When a heated nozzle within the nozzle array reaches a temperature above the threshold temperature due to heat conducted from the respective thermally conductive pin, the deflection structure of the heated nozzle deforms from a closed position to an open position to permit cooling fluid to impinge upon the electronic component. The deflection structure may be a deflection plate formed of a bimetallic material having layers of different thermal expansion coefficients, or a thermally responsive two-way shape memory material.

Disclosed is a system and to a process for manufacturing a system including a network of sensors including a sheet of dielectric material that is elastically deformable under compressive and shear stress, each cell of the network including a first capacitive sensor for sensing normal pressure in a first direction, a second capacitive sensor for sensing shear stress in a second direction and a third capacitive sensor for sensing shear stress in a third direction. Each capacitive sensor includes a first electrode fixed to the first side of the sheet of dielectric material and a second electrode fixed to the second side of the sheet of dielectric material, the first electrodes of the capacitive sensors of a given cell being connected in series to a first electrically conductive track connecting a row of cells of the network of sensors.

The present invention provides impedance data having an improved spatial resolution, both with regard to depth and lateral extension, which enables a detection of diseased skin conditions, such a malignant melanoma, at an early stage. Specifically, the present invention is implemented in a probe, medical devices and medical systems including such a probe, and methods using such a probe for measuring electrical impedance of tissue of a subject. A switching circuit is arranged for selectively activate electrode pairs of the probe in accordance with a predetermined activation scheme, the predetermined activation scheme including to activate adjacent electrodes in a successive manner, to gradually scan tissue of the subject at a first tissue depth so as to obtain a sequence of impedance signals from the tissue depth.

System and method to manage the structural integrity of critical systems for decision-making support actions based upon their condition, in a structural health management system, analysing information from physical sensors through a computational model (101) of the system. The invention comprises an optimal sensor placement method, a data acquisition system with multi-sensor capability mounted/embedded in the critical system (100), a sampling algorithm for balanced compacted information flow from sensor to storage, a data exchange channel (12) linking the physical module (100) with the virtual one (101), a simulated model of the components/structures combined with the adequate solver for the actual physics involved on the problem and an optimization tool, a database to store data and manage results, a decision module for diagnostics and prognostics of the component/structure integrity status, and a data treatment and visualisation tools (22). These modules support decision-making actions (11, 23, 25) and new components/structures design (18).

A magneto-optic sensor for oilfield application, the sensor (1, 1′, 101, 101′) receives an incident beam IB, IB_A, IB_B, IB_C, IB_D and comprises a polarizing element (3, 103) for providing a determined state of polarization beam and a Faraday rotator (4, 104) for providing a response beam having a modified state of polarization. The sensor provides a response beam (RB, RB_A, RB_B, RB_C, RB_D having an intensity dependent on an external magnetic field representative of a particular characteristic of a well-bore casing CC, CR applied on the Faraday rotator (4, 104).

A class of aperture coded spectrometer is optimized for the spectral characterization of diffuse sources. The instrument achieves high throughput and high spatial resolution by replacing the slit of conventional dispersive spectrometers with a spatial filter or mask. A number of masks can be used including Harmonic masks, Legendre masks, and Hadamard masks.

An intelligent packaging system utilizing acoustic wave devices includes an electronic module, a SAW ID, various passive SAW sensors and a printed antenna. The passive SAW sensors include a SAW pressure sensor, a SAW temperature sensor and one or more SAW chemical sensors for monitoring physical parameters of a package content. The electronic module generally includes a printed large area distributed electrical circuit, an impedance transformer and a SAW transponder for realizing passive wireless monitoring of the structural integrity of the package. A separate power harvesting antenna and/or a separate dual band antenna can generate radio frequency (RF) power for biasing components associated with the electronic module.

A direction of arrival (DOA) estimation device and method are provided, in which the DOA estimation device includes a sensor unit configured to detect a signal and comprising two or more sensors to output sensor signals as a detect signal in response to the detected signal, and a controller configured to calculate statistical distribution data indicative of statistical distribution of each of the sensor signals outputted from the two or more sensors, respectively, retrieve statistical distribution data indicative of statistical distribution of source signal which is non-stationary signal entrained in the signal of the calculated statistical distribution data, and estimate DOA of the source signal based on the retrieved statistical distribution data.

A system and method for analyzing a sample is described. The system may include, for example, a light source and a scanning probe microscope probe. The light source may generate a coherent laser beam that is modulated by a waveform of a lower frequency. The modulated laser beam is absorbed by the sample causing thermally induced expansion and resulting in an excitation of acoustic waves. The probe is locally deployed near the sample and detects, in real time, perturbations in the excited acoustic waves to detect surface and buried structures of the sample.

A recognition force microscope for detecting interactions between a probe and a sensed agent on a scanned surface and methods for its operation are provided. The microscope includes a scanning probe having a tip that is sensitive to a property of the scanned surface, and the probe is adapted to oscillate with a low mechanical Q factor. Operation of the microscope includes recording the displacement of the probe tip as a function of time and simultaneously recording both topographic images and the spatial location of interactions between said probe and one or more sensed agents on the surface.

The present invention provides an x-ray measuring apparatus for diagnosis having high spatial resolution and high sensitivity, which includes: an x-ray source for emitting x-rays from an x-ray focal spot; an x-ray detector in which a plurality of sensing elements each having a sensitive part and a blind part surrounding the sensitive part are arranged two-dimensionally; data processing means for collecting output signals of the sensing elements and performing data processing; and an anti-scatter grid disposed between the x-ray focal spot and the x-ray detector with predetermined distance from the position of the x-ray focal spot and in which an x-ray transmitting member and an x-ray shielding member are alternately arranged in a first direction. A pitch in the first direction of linear images projected on a sensing surface of the x-ray detector of the x-ray shielding member by the x-ray is set to be substantially an integral multiple of two or larger of the pitch of arrangement of the sensing elements in the first direction. In such a manner, a moiré-free image of a wide field of view is obtained.

A method is provided for improved visualization of vascular structures contained within magnetic resonance angiograms, particularly steady-state contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiograms. The disclosed methods include manipulating the relative enhancement levels of the arterial and venous blood pools images with respect to each other and to the surrounding anatomy. This manipulation is meant to optimize visualization of one or both of the individual blood pools without the necessity of completely obscuring or removing the supporting information given by presentation of the other blood pool and/or the surrounding anatomy.

System and method for radiographic imaging of tissue using a non-radioactive, radio-opaque imaging agent that accumulates intracellularly in tissue in proportion to its functional, or physiological, activity. In one embodiment, the imaging agent is a cell-membrane permeable, radio-opaque, high affinity ligand for the intracellular enzyme hexokinase. The imaging agent is administered to a patient, and after an accumulation interval, radiographic images are acquired. The imaging agent preferentially accumulates in malignant tissue and increases its radio-opacity because of its elevated glucose metabolic rate relative to benign and normal tissue. The tissue being examined is transilluminated by X-ray beams with preselected different mean energy spectra, and a separate radiographic image is acquired during transillumination by each beam. An image processing system performs a weighted combination of the acquired images to produce a single displayed image. The image processing procedure isolates the radiographic density contributed solely by differential accumulation of the imaging agent in malignant, benign, and normal tissue. The system and method thus provides a functional image displayed with the anatomical detail and spatial resolution of a radiographic image. The viewer may interactively control the relative proportion of radiographic density contributed by imaging agent, soft tissue, and bone to the displayed image, allowing the display of functional and anatomical information in complete registration, and facilitating localization of malignant tissue in relation to nearby anatomical structures. In other embodiments, the system and method may be used to detect enzymes, nucleic acids, coenzymes, fatty acids, and other cellular targets in diagnostic imaging applications.

A method and device (1) for imaging soft body tissue such as a female breast is proposed. X-ray projection techniques and optical tomography techniques are combined. First image data for a first image of a breast (17) may be acquired by X-ray projection using an X-ray source (3) and an X-ray detector (5). Second image data for a second image may be acquired using optical tomography equipment comprising a light source (9) and a light detector (11). From the first image data, estimated bulk optical properties of the breast (17) are be derived. Based on such estimated bulk optical properties, an optical tomography image is reconstructed from the second image data with high image quality. Performing mammography acquisition at different compression states of the breast (17) may improve patient comfort. Mammograms may be acquired at two different compression states wherein a first compression state is adapted to provide high image resolution. At a second compression state, another mammogram may be acquired together with an optical tomography image. The two mammograms may be used for image registration thereby possibly providing information for a deformation prior. Additional information on tissue composition within the breast may be received by acquiring the first and second mammogram at different X-ray settings.

To increase spatial resolution by observing a sample based on saturated fluorescence components. A fluorescence microscope according to the present invention includes: a laser light source 10 emitting laser light as excitation light; an objective lens 13 focusing the laser light and applying the focused laser light to a sample 14; a detector 22 detecting fluorescence generated in the sample 14 with the laser light; and a stage 15 scanning the sample 14 while moving the sample 14 relative to the laser light, wherein the laser light is applied to the sample with varying intensities such that saturation of fluorescence occurs at the maximum intensity of the laser light, and fluorescence is detected with the detector in accordance with intensity of the laser light, and the sample is observed based on the saturation components of fluorescence.

Devices, systems, and methods for the localization of body lumen junctions and other intraluminal structure are disclosed. Various embodiments permit clinicians to identify and locate lesions and/or anatomical structures within a lumen and accurately place leads and/or devices within a lumen, through determining the intralumen conductance and/or cross-sectional area at a plurality of locations within the body lumen.

A continuous-media or patterned-media disk drive with a low ratio of linear bit density in bits per inch (BPI) in the along-the-track direction to track density in tracks per inch (TPI) in the cross-track direction has a magnetoresistive read head with high cross-track spatial resolution. The read head is located between two magnetic shields, with the shields and read head formed on a side surface of the head carrier perpendicular to the carrier's disk-facing surface. The carrier is supported by the disk drive actuator with the side surface of the carrier oriented generally parallel to the data tracks. In this arrangement the high-spatial-resolution direction of the read head (the transverse direction perpendicular to the side surface on which the head is formed) is in the radial or cross-track direction.

An equipment includes an excitation source (1), elements for injecting (2) an excitation signal produced by the source in an ordered bundle (3) of flexible optical fibers, elements for analyzing (21, 22) an emitted autofluorescence signal. The equipment also includes at the output of the optical fiber bundle (3) an optical head (4) designed to be placed in contact with the biological tissue (6), the optical head being equipped with optical elements adapted to cause the excitation signal output from the bundle (3) to converge into a subsurface analyzing zone (5), the same optical fiber(s) used for excitation of the bundle (3) being used for detecting the signal emitted by the subsurface analyzing zone, elements (D) placed upstream of the injection elements (2) being further provided to separate the wavelength of the excitation signal and the wavelength of the autofluorescence signal.

The invention discloses a transmission-enhanced nanometer annular near-field optical probe and a preparation method thereof. The probe is composed of an optical fiber core, nanometer annular structures, a metal film and a central enhancing transmission hole. The nanometer annular structures are distributed at an interface between silicon dioxide on the smooth end of the optical fiber core and themetal film and can convert excited light to plasmons which are focused to the central enhancing transmission hole, and furthermore a nanometer scale and enhanced transmission light with height directivity are generated. Furthermore through changing and optimized position and width of the annular structure, metal film material and thickness, dimension size of the central enhancing transmission holeand the like, regulation and optimization of nanometer focusing can be realized. The transmission-enhanced nanometer annular near-field optical probe can be used as the probe of a scanning near-fieldoptical microscope, an atomic force microscope and a tip-enhanced Raman spectrometer. High-directivity nanometer-scale enhanced transmission near-field light which is formed by the optical probe canbe used as a light source for nanometer lithography and sub-wavelength optical transmission. Furthermore the transmission-enhanced nanometer annular near-field optical probe has an important application value in many fields such as nano-sensing and nano-imaging.

The invention relates to a hyperspectral high spatial resolution integral view field spectral imaging system used for underwater detection, and solves the problems that the view field acquired by theconventional micro-lens array spectral imaging method is small, high spatial resolution under large view field cannot be realized and only narrow view field detection under the condition of accurate wavelength selection can be realized. The imaging system comprises a sealed box, a front telescope system, a beam splitter, a first imaging lens group, a grayscale detector, a first collimating lens group, a micro-lens array unit, a second imaging lens group, a diffraction grating and a spectrum detector. The light through the front telescope system enters the beam splitter, wherein one path of light maintains the original incident direction to transmit and one path of light spreads in the direction perpendicular to the incident direction. The first imaging lens group collects the target lightperpendicular to the incident direction and forms an image to the grayscale detector. The first collimating lens group, the micro-lens array unit, the second imaging lens group, the diffraction grating and the spectrum detector are arranged in turn. The first collimating lens group collimates the light transmitting along the incident direction.