Patents Examined by Rishi R Patel
  • Patent number: 11500051
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography system has an interference suppression transmitter and an interference suppression antenna. The interference suppression transmitter is configured to output an interference suppression signal via the interference suppression antenna as a function of a transmission interference suppression parameter determined from a patient property. In a predetermined region of an environment of the magnetic resonance tomography system, a field strength of the excitation pulse is reduced by destructive interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Jürgen Nistler, Rainer Schneider, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 11493579
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to MRI RF multi-tune coil elements, arrays, and MRI systems comprising such elements. One example embodiment comprises: a LC coil comprising one or more matching points; and two or more matching branches, each of which connected to the LC coil at matching point of the one or more matching points that is associated with that matching branch, wherein each matching branch comprises an associated set of one or more RF traps configured to block each frequency of two or more frequencies other than a frequency associated with that matching branch, and wherein each matching branch is configured to match to an associated predetermined impedance at the frequency associated with that matching branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Quality Electrodynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yang, Tsinghua Zheng, Haoqin Zhu
  • Patent number: 11486952
    Abstract: In a method for determining imaging parameters for a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image, a set of image sequence parameters of the imaging sequence is determined, a frequency offset of off-resonant tissue potentially present in the object under examination is determined, an allowed maximum position shift of the off-resonant tissue along a slice selection direction is determined, a rotation angle which leads to the allowed maximum shift for the off-resonant tissue is determined based on the determined set of image sequence parameters, and the determined rotation angle is provided to the MR imaging system to allow the MR imaging system to generate the MR image using the determined rotation angle in the imaging sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Benkert
  • Patent number: 11474184
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to operating an MR system in which MR signals of an object under examination are acquired in an examining region using a multi echo imaging sequence, in which an RF excitation pulse and a plurality of RF refocusing pulses are applied. The techniques include determining a first accumulated phase of a magnetization in the object under examination. Then, a second accumulated phase of the magnetization in the object under examination is determined due to concomitant magnetic fields occurring between a second pair of consecutive RF pulses. Finally, it is determined whether a deviation from the predefined relationship is larger than a threshold and, if this is the case, a measure is applied in view of the fact that the deviation is larger than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler, Constantin von Deuster
  • Patent number: 11460289
    Abstract: An example device includes a first gradiometer that includes a first set of sensing elements aligned along a first axis, a second gradiometer that includes a second set of sensing elements aligned along a second axis, and a controller. The first set of sensing elements and the second set of sensing elements may be configured to sense a set of magnetic field components that are perpendicular to the rotational axis, wherein the first axis is in a first plane and the second axis is in a second plane, and the first plane and the second plane may be perpendicular to a rotational axis of a rotatable object. The controller may obtain, via the first gradiometer and the second gradiometer, the set of components of the magnetic field. The controller may then determine, based on obtaining the set of components of the magnetic field, the angular position of the rotatable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 11454687
    Abstract: A method for using a multi-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simultaneously quantify T1 and fat fraction in an anatomical region of interest includes performing a radial single shot multi-echo acquisition of the anatomical region of interest. The radial single shot multi-echo acquisition comprises applying a preparation pulse to invert longitudinal magnetization of the anatomical region of interest, and acquiring a plurality of radial readouts at different echo times (TE). A magnetization recovery curve is continuously sampled using the plurality of radial readouts to yield a plurality of radial spokes. The radial spokes for each TE are ground together to generate under-sampled k-space data for each TE. The under-sampled k-space data is reconstructed into a plurality of multi-echo images corresponding to the different echo times. One or more fitting algorithms are applied to the multi-echo images to generate a water-only T1 map and a proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Mahesh Bharath Keerthivasan, Xiaodong Zhong, Marcel Dominik Nickel, Vibhas S. Deshpande
  • Patent number: 11448714
    Abstract: A multi-planar intraoral radio frequency (RF) coil apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system can include a housing having a shape configured to be positioned in an occlusal plane between an upper jaw and a lower jaw of a subject and a plurality of coil elements disposed within the housing. The plurality of coil elements includes a first coil element positioned in a first plane and a second coil element positioned in a second plane different from the first plane and substantially parallel to the first plane. The coil elements can be loop coil elements or dipole coil elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Donald Robert Nixdorf, Ali Caglar Ozen, Djaudat Idiyatullin, Gregor Adriany
  • Patent number: 11448718
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for visualizing low-intensity pathologies or anatomical structures. The method can include applying, via a MRI machine, an RF pulse configured to suppress the imaging of fat in the subject and acquiring, via the MRI machine, an image of the subject. A subtle intensity graduating homomorphic transform is applied to the acquired image to provide improved visualized of the low-intensity pathology or anatomical structure. The resulting transformed image can be output to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Venkata Veerendranadh Chebrolu, Eric Stinson, Peter Kollasch
  • Patent number: 11441414
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool includes an antenna assembly and a magnet assembly. The NMR tool also includes a motional sensor comprising at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna disposed about a tool axis and about at least a portion of the magnet assembly, in which the motional sensor is operable to generate readings for lateral motion of the antenna assembly and the magnet assembly. The at least one RF antenna has a soft magnetic core and a coil winding disposed around the soft magnetic core. The motional sensor can determine a one-dimensional NMR image indicating a lateral displacement of the NMR tool based on one or more spatial positions of NMR excitation volumes in the region of interest that correspond to respective excitation frequencies in the at least one RF antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Arcady Reiderman
  • Patent number: 11442127
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of DDCE-MRF. The method can include: a) introducing two or more contrast agents to a region of interest (ROI) of a subject, the two or more contrast agents having different relaxivities; b) measuring a T1 relaxation time and a T2 relaxation time for locations within the ROI using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF); c) determining, using equations that relate the different relaxivities, the T1 relaxation time, the T2 relaxation time, and concentrations of the two or more contrast agents, the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents for each of the locations within the ROI; and d) producing an image depicting the ROI based, at least in part, on the concentrations of the two or more contrast agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Chris Flask, Christian Anderson, Xin Yu, Nicole Steinmetz, Mark A. Griswold, Susann Brady-Kalnay
  • Patent number: 11435420
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and apparatus for determining an MR image or an MR fat image of an examination subject, first and second MR signal datasets are provided to a computer, respectively obtained at first and second echo times. The computer defines a signal model and determines possible solution candidates for values of parameters of the signal model for each pixel of the two MR signal datasets so that the MR signals thereof are matched as well as possible. A correct solution is selected from the solution candidates, using a calculated phase map, based on predetermined assumptions regarding the calculated phase map. The MR water image or the MR fat image is determined using the correct solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Marcel Dominik Nickel
  • Patent number: 11408953
    Abstract: Improvements in MR spiral imaging are provided in that spiral segments (2 to 8) are reordered, in particular alternately traversed and/or permuted. Moreover, repeatedly approaching the same post-trajectory points (16) between the acquisitions of the spiral segments (2 to 8) is provided, in which the post-trajectory points (16) are located outside of the center (18) of k-space (9), preferably outside of a region (20) of the k-space (9) covered by the spiral segments (2 to 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: Jurgen Hennig, Maxim Zaitsev
  • Patent number: 11378636
    Abstract: A shimming system for magnetic resonance imaging is provided, which includes: a multi-channel local shim coil unit configured to be installed on an inspection table of a magnetic resonance imaging system, where the multi-channel local shim coil unit includes a local multi-channel shim coil and a radio frequency receiving coil for receiving magnetic resonance signals, and the radio frequency receiving coil is placed inside the local multi-channel shim coil and separated by a distance from the local multi-channel shim coil; a computer control system configured to install and set software controlled by a DC power and calculate field maps and calculate optimization processes; a DC power system communicatively connected to the computer control system to control a value of current of each channel; and a housing having a semi-cylindrical configuration, where the local multi-channel shim coil is only distributed on a semi-cylindrical surface of the semi-cylindrical configuration of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN INSTITUTES OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ye Li, Qiaoyan Chen, Jo Lee, Chao Luo, Jianhong Wen, Chao Zou, Xin Liu
  • Patent number: 11378631
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) local coil and a magnetic resonance apparatus are provided. The MR local coil includes a plurality of substrates. At least one conductor loop is arranged on each substrate of the plurality of substrates. The plurality of substrates form a combined virtual surface. The plurality of substrates may be displaced with respect to one another tangentially to the virtual surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kundner, Stephan Zink
  • Patent number: 11373392
    Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance fingerprinting includes acquiring a plurality of MR image datasets using at least two pulse sequence types, the plurality of MR image datasets representing signal evolutions for image elements in a region of interest, comparing the plurality of MR image datasets to a dictionary of signal evolutions to identify at least one parameter of the MR image datasets and generating a report indicating the at least one parameter of the MR image datasets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: Case Western Reserve University, Siemens Healthcare GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Nittka, Gregor Korzdorfer, Peter Speier, Mark A. Griswold, Yun Jiang
  • Patent number: 11340325
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. Sampling is performed in response to a diffusion-weighted double-echo pulse sequence. Sampling acquires transient-state signals of the double-echo sequence. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Mark Griswold, Vikas Gulani, Dan Ma, Yun Jiang, Katherine Wright
  • Patent number: 11313928
    Abstract: A coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal is provided. The coil may include a first conductor; and a second conductor electrically coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor may extend along the first conductor. The first conductor may have at least one first opening or the second conductor may have at least one second opening. The first conductor and the second conductor may be electrically coupled using an electronic component placed at the at least one first opening or the at least one second opening so that an electric current flows between the first conductor and the second conductor through the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shao Che, Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11313929
    Abstract: The exemplary system and method facilitate excitation of RF magnetic fields in ultra-high field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MRI) systems (e.g., MRI/NMR system) using a slotted waveguide array (SWGA) as an exciter coil. The exemplary exciter coil, in some embodiments, is configurable to provide RF magnetic field B1+ with high field-uniformity, with high efficiency, with excellent circular polarization, with negligible axial z-component, with arbitrary large field of view, and with exceptional possibilities for field-optimizations via RF shimming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Branislav Notaros, Milan Ilic
  • Patent number: 11300643
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a system that includes: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be image is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; one or more gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; one or more pulse generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; one or more shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
  • Patent number: 11280858
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, and low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a distributed capacitance loop portion comprising two parallel conductor wires encapsulated and separated by a dielectric material, the two parallel conductor wires maintained separate by the dielectric material along an entire length of the loop portion between terminating ends thereof, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier, and a coil-interfacing cable extending between the coupling electronics portion and an interfacing connector of the RF coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Steven Stormont, Scott Allen Lindsay, Victor Taracila, Ghazi Mustafa, Nabeel M. Malik, Fraser John Laing Robb, Dashen Chu