A method and apparatus to automatically control the timing of an image acquisition by an imaging system in developing a correlation model of movement of a target within a patient.

A method and apparatus to automatically control the timing of an image acquisition by an imaging system in developing a correlation model of movement of a target within a patient.

A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) being connectable to a respiration monitoring means (46) which is configured to provide an output signal (48) whose level represents a respiration state of the subject of interest (20), the method comprising: —a step (54) of providing a prospective acquisition scheme for acquiring magnetic resonance images at each respiration state of a set of selected respiration states of the subject of interest (20), the triggering on the selected respiration states being based on predetermined threshold output signal levels of the respiration monitoring means (46), and, during executing magnetic resonance image acquisition pursuant to the prospective acquisition scheme, a step (58) of comparing actual respiration states at which magnetic resonance images were actually acquired, with the selected respiration states according to the prospective acquisition scheme and predetermined ranges of tolerance (52) of the selected respiration states, —a step (60) of modifying the prospective acquisition scheme, if one of the actual respiration states lies outside the predetermined range of tolerance (52) of the selected respiration state, and a step (62) of proceeding execution of magnetic resonance imaging acquisition pursuant to the modified prospective acquisition scheme; and a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) comprising a control unit (26) that is configured to carry out steps of an embodiment of such a method.

A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) being connectable to a respiration monitoring means (46) which is configured to provide an output signal (48) whose level represents a respiration state of the subject of interest (20), the method comprising: —a step (54) of providing a prospective acquisition scheme for acquiring magnetic resonance images at each respiration state of a set of selected respiration states of the subject of interest (20), the triggering on the selected respiration states being based on predetermined threshold output signal levels of the respiration monitoring means (46), and, during executing magnetic resonance image acquisition pursuant to the prospective acquisition scheme, a step (58) of comparing actual respiration states at which magnetic resonance images were actually acquired, with the selected respiration states according to the prospective acquisition scheme and predetermined ranges of tolerance (52) of the selected respiration states, —a step (60) of modifying the prospective acquisition scheme, if one of the actual respiration states lies outside the predetermined range of tolerance (52) of the selected respiration state, and a step (62) of proceeding execution of magnetic resonance imaging acquisition pursuant to the modified prospective acquisition scheme; and a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) comprising a control unit (26) that is configured to carry out steps of an embodiment of such a method.

A method and a device determine a time curve of the depth of breath of a sleeping person. Height profiles of the person at individual recording time points are continuously determined. Height profiles from adjacent recording time points are combined to give segments. The region which indicates the abdomen or chest region of the person depending on a corresponding reference point or reference region is selected as an observation region. For each height profile within the segment, the corresponding average value of the distances of the points of the height profile, which points lie within the observation region, from a reference point is determined. For the segment, a signal is determined and for each recording time point, the average value determined for this height profile is associated with the signal. On the basis of the determined signal, values which characterize the time curve of the depth of breath are determined.

A method and a device determine a time curve of the depth of breath of a sleeping person. Height profiles of the person at individual recording time points are continuously determined. Height profiles from adjacent recording time points are combined to give segments. The region which indicates the abdomen or chest region of the person depending on a corresponding reference point or reference region is selected as an observation region. For each height profile within the segment, the corresponding average value of the distances of the points of the height profile, which points lie within the observation region, from a reference point is determined. For the segment, a signal is determined and for each recording time point, the average value determined for this height profile is associated with the signal. On the basis of the determined signal, values which characterize the time curve of the depth of breath are determined.

A sensor apparatus including a flexible substrate and a wrinkled conductor disposed on the flexible substrate. In some embodiments, the conductor includes micro-scale invaginations. Also disclosed are methods of making a sensor apparatus, including: placing a mask over a polymeric sheet, wherein the mask is configured to block regions of the polymeric sheet, depositing a conductive structure on the polymeric sheet at regions exposed through the mask, shrinking the polymeric sheet with conductive structure patterned on its surface by heating, and transferring the conductive structure to a flexible substrate. Also disclosed are methods of sensing a health condition of a user or patient. The methods include coupling a sensor apparatus to a surface of a user or patient overlying structures to be monitored. The sensor apparatus may include a crumpled conductor capable of detecting strain. Strain is detected by directing current through the sensor apparatus during flexing of the surface and measuring a characteristic of the sensor apparatus based on the strain to generate an output for a user, indicative of the condition of the user or patient.

A sensor apparatus including a flexible substrate and a wrinkled conductor disposed on the flexible substrate. In some embodiments, the conductor includes micro-scale invaginations. Also disclosed are methods of making a sensor apparatus, including: placing a mask over a polymeric sheet, wherein the mask is configured to block regions of the polymeric sheet, depositing a conductive structure on the polymeric sheet at regions exposed through the mask, shrinking the polymeric sheet with conductive structure patterned on its surface by heating, and transferring the conductive structure to a flexible substrate. Also disclosed are methods of sensing a health condition of a user or patient. The methods include coupling a sensor apparatus to a surface of a user or patient overlying structures to be monitored. The sensor apparatus may include a crumpled conductor capable of detecting strain. Strain is detected by directing current through the sensor apparatus during flexing of the surface and measuring a characteristic of the sensor apparatus based on the strain to generate an output for a user, indicative of the condition of the user or patient.

There is provided a respiration estimation method. The respiration estimation method includes a first step (S107) of estimating a breathing rate of a subject based on each of a time-series signal of first data relating to a cardiac function of the subject and a time-series signal of second data relating to an acceleration by a respiratory motion of the subject, a second step (S108) of estimating a breathing rate obtained by filtering noise using a Kalman filter for each of the breathing rate estimated based on the first data and the breathing rate estimated based on the second data, and a third step (S109) of executing weighted averaging processing for the plurality of estimated values of the breathing rates obtained in the second step.

There is provided a respiration estimation method. The respiration estimation method includes a first step (S107) of estimating a breathing rate of a subject based on each of a time-series signal of first data relating to a cardiac function of the subject and a time-series signal of second data relating to an acceleration by a respiratory motion of the subject, a second step (S108) of estimating a breathing rate obtained by filtering noise using a Kalman filter for each of the breathing rate estimated based on the first data and the breathing rate estimated based on the second data, and a third step (S109) of executing weighted averaging processing for the plurality of estimated values of the breathing rates obtained in the second step.