Patents Examined by Tiffany Fetzner
  • Patent number: 9720063
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image of a tissue are provided. A method includes acquiring MR raw data. The MR raw data corresponds to MR signals obtained at undersampled q-space locations for a plurality of q-space locations that is less than an entirety of the q-space locations and the MR signals at the q-space locations represent the three dimensional displacement distribution of the spins in the imaging voxel. The method also includes performing a joint image reconstruction technique on the MR raw data to exploit structural correlations in the MR signals to obtain a series of accelerated MR images and performing, for each image pixel in each accelerated MR image of the series of accelerated MR images, a compressed sensing reconstruction technique to exploit q-space signal sparsity to identify a plurality of diffusion maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Immanuel Sperl, Christopher Judson Hardy, Luca Marinelli, Ek Tsoon Tan, Kevin Franklin King, Marion Irene Menzel
  • Patent number: 9720059
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a coil array for parallel magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition, comprising: a plurality of coil elements, wherein each of the coil elements is formed by a loop of wire, wherein the plurality of coil elements are arranged such that the coil elements are covering the imaged sample and uniformly distributed over a plane comprising the encoding directions not in parallel with the frequency encoding directions, which are the directions of the static magnetic field variation generated by a plurality of gradient coils of a magnetic resonance imaging system during magnetic resonance data sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fa-Hsuan Lin, Ying-Hua Chu
  • Patent number: 9714990
    Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic particle imaging, the apparatus comprising: a sensing unit configured to detect linear sample signals, which represent the mixed electromagnetic fields, generated from magnetic particles in a sample; a driving unit configured to move the sensing unit in a direction of X-axis, Y-axis, or Z-axis; and a data processing unit configured to rearrange in a matrix linear sample signals detected by the sensing unit that is moved by the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hyo Bong Hong, Jae Ho Lim, Jong-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 9714998
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus provide subject/object motion detection and correction during a MRI scan. The method includes generating via a magnetic resonance scanner a magnetic field gradient and a radio-frequency signal for the MRI scan. The radio-frequency signal contains a successive repetition of pulse sequences, each pulse sequence starting with a radio-frequency excitation pulse. A time between two successive radio-frequency excitation pulses are defined as a repetition time. Detecting, from a readout signal emitted in response to the pulse sequence, time-points in which motion has occurred. Interleaves are automatically created. A sampling of the k-space is performed by arranging k-space MRI readout signals acquired over each repetition time of the pulse sequence into several groups of interleaves of uniform k-space sampling reconstructing separately each subset of interleaves for obtaining low resolution MR images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunnar Krueger, Davide Piccini
  • Patent number: 9700230
    Abstract: MRI k-space data is acquired for a patient ROI during data acquisition sequences including a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal readout period using a late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) data acquisition sequence including at least one fat-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse imposed (a) after a water-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of normal tissue protons near a center of the readout period and (b) before the readout period center, which fat-specific inversion pulse is also timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of fat tissue protons near the readout period center. The acquired MR image data is reconstructed into a contrast enhanced LGE image of tissues within the ROI but having substantially suppressed normal and fat components therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiangzhi Zhou, Mitsue Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9681822
    Abstract: An animal handling system for use in an MRD device, including: a first elongated enclosure having a proximal end, a distal open end and a first geometry, and a second first elongated enclosure having a proximal end, a distal open end and a second geometry. The first geometry comprises a first cross-sectional area which is larger than a second cross-sectional area of the second geometry. The first elongated enclosure is inserted into a first input port of the MRD device and the second elongated enclosure is inserted in a second input port of the MRD device diametrically opposite to second input port, such that on insertion of the first elongated enclosure into the first input port and insertion of the second elongated enclosure into the second input, the second elongated enclosure slides into the first elongated enclosure through the open distal end of the first elongated enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ASPECT MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Uri Rapoport, Itzchak Rabinovitz
  • Patent number: 9678190
    Abstract: A system and method for generating MR phase contrast images near metal include an MRI apparatus that includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly. The MRI apparatus also includes a computer programmed to acquire a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) MR data sets and to generate a plurality of frequency images based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets. Each 3D MR data set is acquired using a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to an offset frequency value that is distinct for each 3D MR data set. The computer is also programmed to convert the plurality of frequency images to a plurality of time domain images and to generate a phase image based on the plurality of time domain images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Kevin M. Koch
  • Patent number: 9678181
    Abstract: A method for shimming a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) device includes determining a field of view region for an object under examination. Determining the field of view region includes adapting the field of view region automatically to a region of the object under examination to be examined by the MRT device. Before the MRT device records an image, an adjustment measurement of the magnetic field is performed. A field map of the magnetic field of the field of view region is defined based on the adjustment measurement. A shimming of the magnetic field is implemented based on the field map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Benjamin Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9651640
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method system for slice-selective detection and correction of incorrect magnetic resonance data, a first acquisition sequence is implemented to acquire MR data from a first slice of the examination subject that is associated with a chronologically first coherence curve of the magnetization; a second acquisition sequence is implemented to acquire MR data from a second slice of the examination subject that is associated with a chronologically second coherence curve of the magnetization. In slice multiplexing measurement sequences that are characterized by the simultaneous use of the transverse magnetization of the first and second slice within the first and second acquisition sequences slice-selective errors can be detected and corrections made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 9632203
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tools having non-resonant circuits for analyzing a formation and/or a sample. For example, nuclear magnetic resonance and resistivity tools can make use of a non-resonant excitation coil and/or a detection coil. These coils can achieve desired frequencies by the use of switches, thereby removing the requirement of tuning circuits that are typical in conventional tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tim Hopper, David G Cory, Julius Kusuma, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann, Martin E. Poitzsch
  • Patent number: 9632204
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging tool comprises an arrangement of one or more magnets that generates a static magnetic field (B0) in a material body. A pair of first and second antenna coils is attached to the tool around an antenna core, wherein the turns of the first and second antenna coils are unaligned with either a longitudinal axis of the tool, or an orthogonal axis substantially transverse thereto. Circuitry drives the pair of first and second antenna coils in concert to produce a radio frequency field (B1) in the material body. In one embodiment, the turns in the first antenna coil are separated from corresponding turns in the second oppositely wound antenna coil by an angle (?). In an example embodiment, the angle (?) is selected to minimize a power draw of the tool, or maximize one or more of SNR/echo, (I), SNR/time, or (II) of the tool, for a predetermined configuration of the magnet arrangement and antenna core of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Rebecca Corina Jachmann, Jie Yang
  • Patent number: 9612304
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus includes receive coils and a receiver device for processing magnetic resonance signals received by coil elements of the receive coils. The receive coils are subdivided into at least a first group having at least one receive coil and a second group having at least one receive coil. The receive coils of the first group are connected to the receiver device via a hardwired communications link, and the receive coils of the second group are each connectable or connected to the receiver device via a wireless communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Klaus Huber
  • Patent number: 9603546
    Abstract: A phantom calibration body (12) for calibrating diffusion MRI device (16) that mimics a material such as a mammalian tissue is disclosed. The phantom calibration body (12) includes a homogeneous aqueous solution (30) that contains a mixture of low molecular-weight and high molecular-weight polymers housed in a container (14) that is placed in the diffusion MRI device (16) for obtaining one or more diffusion MRI images of the phantom calibration body (12). A measure of diffusivity is calculated for each of the one or more diffusion MRI images in order to calibrate the diffusion MRI device. Methods of using the phantom calibration body (12) to calibrate diffusion MRI device (16) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Ferenc Horkay, Carlo Pierpaoli, Peter J. Basser
  • Patent number: 9599690
    Abstract: In a method for rephasing a first spin system in a first slice with a first coherence curve and a second spin system of a second slice with a second coherence curve, in the generation of MR images with slice multiplexing, a first RF pulse deflects the spin system of the first slice and a second RF pulse deflects the spin system of the second slice. The beginning of the second RF pulse is time-shifted with respect to the beginning of the first RF pulse by a time period that is shorter than the duration of the first RF pulse. A rephasing correction impresses a correction phase on at least one of the spin systems, and signals of the spin systems are respectively detected. The coherence curves are rephased so detection of the signals occurs simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 9588203
    Abstract: An assembly for determining at least one electrical property of an object. The assembly includes at least one transmitter that can generate a plurality of electromagnetic field distribution patterns directed at an object. The assembly also includes a data apparatus with an MRI apparatus and a data processor. The MRI apparatus can produce at least one image of the object using a magnitude or a phase modulated by the electromagnetic field distribution patterns. The processor can then process data associated with the object to determine the at least one electrical property the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Yudong Zhu, Daniel K. Sodickson
  • Patent number: 9588205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging method for simultaneous and dynamic determination of a longitudinal relaxation time T1 and a transversal relaxation time T2 of the nuclear spin system of an object, in the context of DCE or DSE MRI. In this respect, the invention makes use of a steady-state gradient echo pulse sequence comprising an EPI readout module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Stefanie Remmele, Wei Liu, Tobias Ratko Voigt, Christian Stehning
  • Patent number: 9588199
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for detecting unplugged local coils in a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) device. The MRT device includes a local coil that has a RFID tag configured to detect transmitted RFID signals. When at least one transmitted RFID signal is detected, at least one unplugged local coil is detected in the MRT device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Kess
  • Patent number: 9581662
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance device is proposed. The device has a magnet unit having a cylindrical radio frequency coil unit, a cylindrical accommodation area for accommodating a patient, and a housing unit surrounding the magnet unit with at least one housing shell unit. The radio frequency coil unit cylindrically surrounds the accommodation area. The housing shell unit is disposed between the accommodation area and the radio frequency coil unit. The at least one housing shell unit is constituted at least partially by a flexible spring/mass unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernd Maciejewski, Annette Stein
  • Patent number: 9581665
    Abstract: Systems and methods for damping cable common-mode energy in magnetic environments are provided. One system includes a damping arrangement having a transmission line within an electric (E) field environment and an energy damping device formed having a conductive plastic body and positioned adjacent a conductor of the transmission line. The energy damping device is configured to dampen common-mode energy induced within the transmission line by the E field environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eddy Benjamin Boskamp
  • Patent number: 9575154
    Abstract: At least a portion of a body (10) of a patient is positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1). The portion of the body (10) is subject to a calibration sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a calibration signal data set is acquired by a multi-point Dixon technique at a first image resolution. Calibration parameters are derived from the calibration signal data set. The portion of the body (10) is subject to an imaging sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a diagnostic signal data set is acquired at a second image resolution which is higher than the first image resolution A diagnostic MR image is reconstructed from the diagnostic signal data set. The MR device (1) is operated according to the derived calibration parameters with fat saturation during acquisition of the diagnostic signal data set and/or during reconstruction of the diagnostic MR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Arjan Willem Simonetti, Henri Gwenael Herigault