Patents by Inventor Thomas Mertelmeier

Thomas Mertelmeier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120134464
    Abstract: In an imaging method and a tomosynthesis apparatus, a two-dimensional low-energy image of the predetermined volume segment is obtained after administration of a contrast agent, followed by a two-dimensional high-energy image and then a high-energy tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is obtained with a high total radiation dose that is significantly higher than the low radiation dose. The two-dimensional low-energy image is subtracted from the two-dimensional high-energy image to generate a result with which the concentration of the contrast agent is visible. Additionally, in a time interval in which an enrichment or a washing-out of the contrast agent occurs within the predetermined volume segment, a tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is automatically implemented to show the concentration of the contrast agent in the predetermined volume segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Mathias Hoernig, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20120051620
    Abstract: In a device and associated method to extract a tissue sample, spatial coordinates of tissue variations in slice images are determined and tested by a forward projection in projection images in order, with tested spatial coordinates, to create revised slice images with a precise localization of a tissue variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20120051500
    Abstract: A method to show a predetermined volume segment of an examination subject by means of a tomosynthesis apparatus, and a correspondingly designed tomosynthesis apparatus, operate as follows. A radioscopy test is implemented in which x-rays with a defined radiation dose are generated by an x-ray source, the x-rays traversing the predetermined volume segment and strike a detector, and an intensity of the x-rays striking the detector is determined. A first radiation dose of x-rays is calculated to create a two-dimensional exposure depending on the determined radiation dose and the intensity. A second radiation doses of x-rays is calculated to implement a tomosynthesis depending on the determined radiation dose and the intensity. A tomosynthesis of the predetermined volume segment is implemented with x-rays that traverse the predetermined volume segment and strike the detector, the x-rays being generated by an x-ray source with the second radiation doses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Katrin Johansson, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20120008739
    Abstract: A mammography apparatus has at least one x-ray source to emit x-ray radiation and an x-ray detector with a number of pixels. The mammography apparatus is designed so that the x-ray radiation is emitted into the breast tissue of a patient at a number of positions, and the x-ray radiation is detected by the x-ray detector after it has passed through the breast tissue. The positions have different distances from the shoulder-to-shoulder axis of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: MATHIAS HOERNIG, THOMAS MERTELMEIER
  • Patent number: 8031834
    Abstract: A tomosynthesis apparatus has an x-ray source that generates an x-ray beam emanating from a focus, which is received by a flat panel detector. To set a tomosynthesis angle, the position of the central axis of the x-ray beam of the x-ray source is variable. A collimator diaphragm has a diaphragm aperture that limits the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector. The collimator diaphragm is arranged in the beam path between the focus and the flat panel detector. The shape and size of the diaphragm aperture are dynamically varied (adjusted) dependent on the changing tomosynthesis angle, such that the expansion of the x-ray beam at the location of the flat panel detector always essentially corresponds to the detector dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jasmina Ludwig, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 8009052
    Abstract: In a method and system for monitoring the power state of an x-ray emitter and/or an x-ray detector, the x-ray emitter is operated according to a set of test parameters, so as to emit x-rays that strike at least a portion of the detector region of the x-ray detector. At least one value characterizing the operation of the x-ray emitter and/or the x-ray detector is determined, and this detected parameter is compared with a comparable reference parameter value. The power state of the x-ray emitter and/or the x-ray detector is determined based on deviation of the detected parameter from the reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mathias Hörnig, Thomas Mertelmeier, Phillip Thaler
  • Patent number: 8002718
    Abstract: In a shockwave system with a shockwave source for treatment of a patient with shockwaves, a control and evaluation unit for evaluating an input signal supplied directly thereto that is correlated with a blood pressure value of the patient determined during the treatment, and controls the shockwave source dependent on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Buchholtz, Jens Fehre, Bernd Granz, Martin Hoheisel, Werner Kruft, Markus Lanski, Matthias Mahler, Christian Meinert, Thomas Mertelmeier, Ralf Nanke, Manfred Rattner
  • Patent number: 7974378
    Abstract: In a method and a mammography device, a virtual mask is created from an x-ray image of the breast for positioning the breast for a biopsy. The mask reproduces the image region covered by the breast tissue. A region targeted for the biopsy, and located within the breast tissue, is marked in the mask. The breast is then positioned for the biopsy in the mammography device between a support plate and a compression plate, the compression plate being provided with a recess for introducing the biopsy instrument therethrough. The mask and the compression plate are superimposed to cause the marked region to be located within this recess. The breast is then moved until the position and the contour thereof substantially coincide with the position and contour of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Carina Hofmann, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7965812
    Abstract: A mammography system has an x-ray source, a detector and a compression plate arranged in the beam path between the source and the detector. The x-ray source, the detector and the compression plate are mounted on a vertical column such that they respectively pivot around separate pivot axes. The three pivot axes are spaced apart from one another and oriented substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a surface normal of the detector. The x-ray source and the compression plate are held on the vertical column such that they can be displaced in a plane oriented approximately vertical to their pivot axes. The mammography system is operable to obtain two sets of tomosynthesis data respectively with different tube-to-detector distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20110122992
    Abstract: An x-ray source has multiple electron sources spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction that is defined as being parallel to the rotation axis of a rotating anode which is common to all of the electron sources. Each electron source emits electrons that strike the anode at respective strike points that are spatially separated from each other along the longitudinal direction, to produce respective emission centers, from which x-rays are emitted, each emission center being associated with respective ones of the x-ray sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7945014
    Abstract: In an x-ray system and a method for tomosynthetic scanning of a subject, x-ray radiation is emitted from two x-ray sources that are panned along a line relative to the subject during a tomosynthetic scan. The two x-ray sources are located next to each other along the line, and each emit an x-ray beam. X-rays from the two parallel beams attenuated by the subject are detected by a two-dimensional x-ray detector, that is substantially stationary during the tomosynthetic scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20110087098
    Abstract: A mammography device for examining a breast has a support plate and a compression plate, between which the breast is positioned and compressed during a radiographic examination. An ultrasound transducer for obtaining a sonogram of the breast is brought into direct contact with the breast either by temporary mounting in one of the support plate or the compression plate or by exchanging one of the compression plate or the support plate with another plate that contains the ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20110046455
    Abstract: A tip of an elongate device is navigated into a particular tissue volume in order to examine the particular tissue volume in a body and part of the tissue volume is analyzed in real-time by way of a biosensor. In at least one embodiment, in the process, either the biosensor can be arranged on the tip of the device or the device includes a catheter, by which a substance to be analyzed is transported out of the tissue volume from the tip to the biosensor arranged at the proximal end of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Arne HENGERER, Andreas Kappel, Luis Lasalvia, Andrea Lichte, Thomas Mertelmeier, Sven Meyburg, Christoph Petry, Marcus Pfister, Martin Requardt
  • Publication number: 20100321404
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for displaying an x-ray image acquired in a mammographic examination wherein the breast was compressed to a compression thickness, a breast area of the breast in an image area of the x-ray image is determined, and the glandular density of the breast area is determined from brightness levels of the x-ray image in the image area and from the compression thickness. A value that characterizes the glandular density is displayed together with the x-ray image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7817777
    Abstract: In a focus detector arrangement and method for an x-ray apparatus for generating projection or tomographic phase-contrast images of an examination subject, a beam of coherent x-rays is generated by an anode that has areas of different radiation emission characteristics arranged in bands thereon, that proceed parallel to grid lines of a phase grid that is used to generate the phase-contrast images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jörg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Publication number: 20100247438
    Abstract: An in vitro method is for diagnosing a tumor disease in a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Arne Hengerer, Andreas Kappel, Luis Lasalvia, Andrea Lichte, Thomas Mertelmeier, Sven Meyburg, Christoph Petry, Marcus Pfister, Martin Requardt
  • Publication number: 20100240970
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a device, which can be implanted into a patient, for an in vivo measurement. In an embodiment, the device includes a catheter for guiding a sample of the patient town analysis unit in the device. A measurement result is determined in the analysis unit by analyzing the sample with the aid of a reagent. In an embodiment, the device furthermore includes an interchange chamber, with the aid of which the reagent can be removed from the device or can be inserted into the device. The interchange chamber has a connector allowing removal or insertion of the reagent while the device is implanted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Arne HENGERER, Andreas Kappel, Luis Lasalvia, Andrea Lichte, Thomas Mertelmeier, Sven Meyburg, Christoph Petry, Marcus Pfister, Martin Requardt
  • Publication number: 20100232673
    Abstract: An improvement in image quality when determining an image using iterative reconstruction is provided by taking account of focus shifts. In order to take into consideration the influence of focus shift in calculated projections, several different projections are calculated for each section of the focus path on a section-by-section basis. The several different calculated projections for a section are averaged for comparison with a projection recorded in the section. Improved image quality is provided, for example, in tomosynthesis applications in which a large number of recordings are made with a stationary detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Benjamin Keck, Markus Kowarschik, Jasmina Ludwig, Thomas Mertelmeier, Holger Scherl
  • Publication number: 20100183119
    Abstract: A radiography diagnostic apparatus has a radiation source that emits an x-ray beam, and a protection that is mounted to prevent unwanted body portions of a patient, or operating personnel, from interacting with the x-ray beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Jasmina Ludwig, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7742558
    Abstract: A tomosynthesis apparatus for mammography has an x-ray source for emission of x-ray beams from different directions directed toward a detector, and a compression plate and a support plate arranged in the beam path between the x-ray source and the detector. A breast to be examined is positioned and compressed between the compression plate and the support plate. The compression plate exhibits a concave recess open in the direction of the support plate on the side of the compression plate facing toward the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Thomas Mertelmeier, Wei Zhao