Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Siems Aktiengesellschaft

Benedikt Hartinger

Manfred Rattner

Volker Matschl

Jürgen Hagen

Franz Plisek

Rainer Paul

A combined PET/MRI device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the PET/MRI device includes an MRI unit for exciting nuclear spins in an examination volume and for receiving signals generated by the excitation in the examination volume, and a PET unit with a detector which surrounds the examination volume at least in part and is used for detecting radiation emanating from the examination volume, with, firstly, damping of the radiation emitted by the examination volume and, secondly, undesired interactions with electromagnetic fields of the MRI unit on the components of the PET/MRI device arranged between the examination volume and the detector being avoided due to the material properties and/or structural design of the components. Corresponding components such as, for example, patient couches, bearing or support apparatuses and local coils, are both MRI and PET compatible.

Combined PET/MRI device, component and local coil

An apparatus for generating acoustic pressure pulses in an acoustic medium has a membrane that can be driven which adjoins the acoustic medium and which is driven in an impact-producing manner. The membrane is mechanically pre-stressed so that it returns into its initial position after a pressure pulse is generated.

Acoustic pressure pulse generator

An electrodynamic shockwave generator, of the type having a shockwave source formed by an electrically conductive membrane and an electrically driven coil, with the membrane being rapidly repulsed from the coil, causing the creation of a shockwave in an acoustic propagation medium disposed on one side of the membrane, upon the application of a pulse to the coil, wherein at least one of the coil or the membrane contains material which can be placed in a superconducting condition. A coolant, and a member for circulating the coolant are provided for placing the material in at least one of these electrically conductive elements in the superconducting condition.

Electrodynamic shockwave generator with a superconducting coil

A shock wave generator of the type suitable for use in an extracorporeal lithotripsy treatment of calculi in a patient permits the shock wave generator to be applied to the body surface of the patient, while still permitting adjustment, i.e., displacement, of the focus without removing the shockwave generator from the body surface. For this purpose, the shock wave source is adjustable relative to the housing of the shock wave generator. When the housing, together with the flexible sack which terminates the housing, is acoustically applied to the body surface of the patient, the shock wave source can still be moved within the housing without changing the application to the patient. Additionally, an ultrasound locating system can be arranged in the shock wave source, which can be adjustable in combination with the shock wave source for precisely locating, or relocating, the calculus to be disintegrated.

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Nuremberg, Germany

Benedikt Hartinger