447 results about "Scanning plane" patented technology

The invention provides systems and methods for aligning or guiding instruments during image-guided interventions. A volumetric medical scan (image data) of a patient may first be registered to patient space data regarding the patient obtained using a tracking device. An ultrasound simulator fitted with position indicating elements whose location is tracked by the tracking device is introduced to the surface of the anatomy of the patient and used to determine an imaginary ultrasound scan plane for the ultrasound simulator. This scan plane is used to reformat the image data so that the image data can be displayed to a user in a manner analogous to a handheld ultrasound transducer by re-slicing the image data according to the location and orientation of the ultrasound simulator. The location of an instrument fitted with position indicating elements tracked by the tracking device may be projected onto the re-sliced scan data.

A high speed computed tomography x-ray scanner using a plurality of x-ray generators. Each x-ray generator is scanned along a source path that is a segment of the scanner's source path such that each point in the source path is scanned by at least one tube. X-ray generators and detectors can be arranged in different scan planes depending on the available hardware so that a complete and near planar scan of a moving object can be assembled and reconstructed into an image of the object.

Apparatuses, methods and computer program products for scan plane geometry definition in tomographic data acquisition via an interactive three-dimensional (3-D) graphical operator interface. The apparatuses, methods and computer program products are initially proposed for use in cardiac MRI, but have a much broader area of application. The apparatuses and methods utilize 3-D computer graphics aspect views of slice planes to show a new scan, represented as semi-transparent uniformly-colored planes. Intersections of these planes with opaque texture-mapped gray-level views of previously acquired images enable the orientation of a new scan to be viewed in a much more intuitive fashion. Advantageously, the apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide for more efficient elimination of positional ambiguity that is often associated with conventional 2-D intersection line views. In addition, any misregistration between localizer scans can be detected immediately in the integrated 3-D display by misalignment of anatomy in the previously acquires image planes.

An interferometer scans the sample surface laterally with respect to the optical axis of the interferometric objective. The objective is tilted, so that the sample surface is placed at an angle with respect to the maximum coherence plane of the instrument. By moving the sample stage laterally, at an angle, through a point at a set distance from the objective on the objective's optical axis, rather than vertically along the optical axis, different parts of the object intersect the maximum coherence plane at different times as the surface passes through the coherence plane, the precise time depending on the profile of the surface. When the OPD of a point on the object's surface is greater than the coherence length of the light source, the intensity of light reflected from this point does not produce interference fringes. Therefore, the intensity registered by the detector is approximately constant. However, when the object point enters the zone of coherence, the interference effects modulate the intensity the same way as in a regular VSI procedure. As the object moves along the scanning direction, it also has a relative vertical speed with respect to the objective because of the tilt of the objective's optical axis with respect to the scanning plane; therefore, the lateral scanning motion produces an OPD variation as the vertical scan in a conventional system. As a result, light intensity data are acquired continuously as the test surface is scanned, thus elimination the need for stitching multiple sub-sets of data.

The invention discloses a calibration method of correlation between a single line laser radar and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera, which is based on the condition that the CCD camera can carry out weak imaging on an infrared light source used by the single line laser radar. The calibration method comprises the steps of: firstly, extracting a virtual control point in a scanning plane under the assistance of a cubic calibration key; and then filtering visible light by using an infrared filter to image infrared light only, carrying out enhancement, binarization treatment and Hough transformation on an infrared image with scanning line information, and extracting two laser scanning lines, wherein the intersection point of the two scanning lines is the image coordinate of the virtual control point in the image. After acquiring multiple groups of corresponding points through the steps, a correlation parameter between the laser radar and the camera can be solved by adopting an optimization method for minimizing a reprojection error. Because the invention acquires the information of the corresponding points directly, the calibration process becomes simpler and the precision is greatly improved with a calibrated angle error smaller than 0.3 degree and a position error smaller than 0.5cm.

An ultrasonic imaging array has two independent, interleaved linear subarrays occupying a common array face. The subarrays are independently steerable and focusable in different imaging planes. The subelements making up the elements in of the subarrays is preferably quadrilateral. Adjacent subelements in each element are electrically connected via an interconnect portion such that the interconnect portion connecting each pair of adjacent subelements in each element is substantially linear and is aligned with the diagonals of the adjacent subelements. A preferred acoustic lens is curved in both azimuth and elevation directions, whereby the subarrays are independently focusable. By transmitting in one plane and simultaneously receiving in a different, orthogonal plane, a system including the array can image a 3-D region of interest (ROI). In a volumetric embodiment of the invention two orthogonal B-mode images of a structure within the ROI are displayed simultaneously. The user may then trace the outlines of the images and the system therefrom calculates the volume of the structure.

The invention provides a phased array antenna unit characteristic near-field measurement method. The near-field measurement method can measure directional diagrams and opening surface near fields of independent units when all the units work at the same time. According to the technical scheme, the method comprises the steps of selecting a measured phased array antenna AUT, and using a vector network analysis meter PNA connected with a PC and a controller and a near-field scanning frame probe respectively connected with the PNA and the controller to form a near-field measuring system for detecting the antenna unit amplitude phase characteristics. The AUT is used as a transmitting antenna, the probe is used as a receiving antenna, and the scanning frame probe is arranged in front of the opening face of a measuring antenna. Devices are connected according to a near-field measuring method, when the magnitude-phase characteristic am of the mth unit of the phased-array antenna is measured, a vector average method is adopted by each measuring point in a near-field scanning plane, a T/R component, an array element and the magnitude-phase characteristic H m<n>=a<m> S m<n>, n=1,...N from the array element to a measuring point space link assembly of the mth unit are measured and calculated, and the magnitude-phase characteristic am of the phased-array measuring unit is calculated.

An agricultural work machine is provided comprising a surroundings detection device for detecting a surroundings in sections, and one or more controllable working elements, wherein the surroundings detection device generates surroundings detection signals, which can be processed in a control and regulating device assigned to the agricultural work machine, wherein the surroundings detection device is designed as a scanner, which scans the surroundings in scanning planes, and wherein each scanning plane is assigned to the control of working elements.

A method of real time ultrasound imaging of an object in at least three two-dimensional scan planes that are rotated around a common axis, is given, together with designs of ultrasound transducer arrays that allows for such imaging. The method is also introduced into a monitoring situation of cardiac function where, combined with other measurements as for example the LV pressure, physiological parameters like ejection fraction and muscular fiber stress is calculated.

A protocol-based ultrasound method is provided. The ultrasound method provides a template comprised of cells. Each of the cells contain scan parameters defining a scan sequence for acquisition of ultrasound images along one or more scan planes through an object. Prior to scanning the object, parameter values for the scan parameters associated with cells in the template are entered to define the scan sequences along at least two scan planes. The object is scanned with an ultrasound probe to automatically and successively acquire ultrasound images along at least two scan planes based on the parameter values for the scan parameters in the cells. The method displays ultrasound images of an object that is changing states in accordance with a protocol. Each of the ultrasound images is acquired along a corresponding scan plane through the object. A collection of ultrasound images is provided. Each of the ultrasound images is acquired along an associated scan plane while the object is in an associated state. The display is segmented into at least two quadrants. A corresponding ultrasound image is presented in the quadrants, wherein co-displayed ultrasound images correspond to one of a common state of the object and a common scan plane through the object.

Switching is provided in a transducer array of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The switching controls the formation of macro elements or aperture for scanning a plane or volume. The switches are implemented with one or more transistors. The control causes the gates of the transistor to float during the “on” connection. While on, the switch connects, allowing ultrasound signals to pass through the switch.

An MR system and method for tracking a device of an interventional procedure within a scan subject is disclosed. At least two MR projections of the device are acquired, from which 3D coordinates of the device are determined. Subsequent image acquisition is adjusted with respect to the coordinates of the device to guide movement thereof towards target anatomy. The present system and method provide the ability to locate and visualize continuous portions of an interventional device in 3D, and do not require the use of embedded RF localizing coils.

An ultrasound system is provided that includes a probe for successively acquiring ultrasound information from an object along at least three distinct scan planes. The scan planes intersect one another along an axis extending from the probe through the object. A memory is included for storing data slices corresponding to the at least three distinct scan planes based on the ultrasound information. Also included is a processor that accesses the memory to select and obtain the data slices and generates ultrasound images based on the data slices. A display is included for co-displaying the ultrasound images.

The present invention provides a pulsed carbon plasma apparatus to produce a diamond-like carbon coating over an extended object, the coating having a high degree of thickness uniformity achieved by scanning the plasma flow over the surface of the object. The pulsed carbon plasma apparatus of the invention comprises a carbon plasma flow scanning device having at least one pair of deflecting coils, where the deflecting coils have, in the scanning plane, a different number of turns on opposite sides. The object may be made of metal, ceramic, glass or plastic. The coatings may be used to improve life and operating performance of tools and machine parts, and as decorative coatings.

An automatic-mobile robot walking scope restriction system and a restriction method thereof are provided; the restriction system comprises the following structures: a boundary mark (300) used for determining restriction boundary positions of a work space (100), and the boundary mark comprises regression reflection material; an automatic-mobile robot (1) walking and working in the work space, and the robot comprises a scan range finder (12) sending and receiving light signals so as to form a scanning plane, thereby carrying out range finding and scanning process to the work space; the robot also comprises a control device (11) used for receiving scan and range finding signals of the scan range finder and setting up a coordinate chart of the work space. The control device receives the scan and range finding signals reflected from the boundary mark by the scan range finder, so the positions of the boundary mark are determined; the coordinates of the restricted boundary are determined according to the positions of the boundary mark, so the automatic-mobile robot can be controlled to work in an area in the restricted boundary. The automatic-mobile robot walking scope restriction system and the restriction method thereof can save energy, are long in effective work time, high in sensitivity and low in cost.

An autonomous moving apparatus moving to a destination while detecting and avoiding an obstacle includes a radar device for scanning a horizontal plane in its travelling direction to thereby detect a position of an obstacle and an obstacle sensor for detecting an obstacle in a space different from the scanning plane of the radar device. The apparatus moves to the destination under such control as to avoid the obstacle based on detection information from the radar device and the obstacle sensor from a detection output provided by a specific-configuration detecting element for detecting a present specific configuration from scanning information by the radar device. By providing such a specific-configuration detecting element that detects a specific configuration based on the scan information by the radar device that can accurately know about position information, it is possible to guess an obstacle having an upper structure, thus providing efficient avoidance.

In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

A system and method for imaging a subject are disclosed. A plurality of edge points corresponding to a set of candidate structures are determined in each image frame in a plurality of 3D image frames corresponding to a volume in the subject. A target structure is detected from the set of candidate structures by applying constrained shape fitting to the edge points in each image frame. A subgroup of image frames including the target structure is identified from the 3D frames. A subset of edge points corresponding to the target structure is determined in each of the subgroup of image frames. A plurality of 2D scan planes corresponding to the subset of edge points is determined, and ranked using a determined ranking function to identify a desired scan plane. A diagnostic parameter corresponding to the target structure is measured using a selected image frame that includes the desired scan plane.

The invention relates to a fast scanning method based on the passive imaging of a single wave beam THz wave. Aiming at the problems of longer scanning time and overhigh system construction cost in an earlier scanning imaging method of the single beam THz wave, a rocker of a crank and rocker mechanism is adopted to drive a line scanning plane mirror to sway horizontally so as to achieve fast transverse scanning motion, and a field scanning plane mirror swaying vertically in a reciprocating way is utilized to realize longitudinal scanning motion, thereby realizing the two-dimensional scanning imaging over object space. On the premise of construction cost reduction, the invention greatly improves the scanning speed per se and simultaneously amplifies the scanning viewing field. In addition, the invention is not only suitable for the passive type THz wave single wave beam scanning imaging, but also suitable for the active type single wave beam scanning imaging of the THz wave.

A holographic laser scanner of ultra-compact design capable of reading bar and other types of graphical indicia within a large scanning volume using holographic optical elements and visible laser diodes. The holographic optical elements are arranged on the scanning disc in such a manner so that none of the laser scanning planes generated within the 3-D scanning volume of the system are spatially and temporally coincident with any other laser scanning plane within the 3-D scanning volume. This novel feature of the present invention ensures that there is substantially zero cross-talk at the plurality of photodetectors provided within the system, significantly improving the performance of the system.