Patents by Inventor Victor Taracila

Victor Taracila 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: 20180081006
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a disconnecting a receive coil from a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance (MR) system during a transmit operation. In one example, a cabling system may include a first line of coil-interfacing cable having a first set of hybrid switches, the first set of hybrid switches including a first switch, a first resonance circuit, and a second switch connected in series, and a second line of the coil-interfacing cable having a second set of hybrid switches, the first line and the second line of the coil-interfacing cable operably coupling one or more radio frequency (RF) coil elements to respective channels of the MR system. By positioning the first and the second sets of hybrid switches along different locations along the coil-interfacing cables, and simultaneously operating each set of hybrid switches, common mode currents may be interrupted along the coil-interfacing cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Fraser John Laing Robb, Robert Steven Stormont, Youqing Zhang, Victor Taracila, Miguel Angel Navarro, II, Dan Kenrick Spence, Shuying Huang, Peter Roemer
  • Publication number: 20170343627
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap for an MRI apparatus comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a first distance from the central conductor at first and second ends of the length, and wherein the first and the second conductors are radially spaced a second distance larger than the first distance from the central conductor at a midpoint of the length. In this way, coupling and subsequent detuning of common mode traps provided adjacent to one another may be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Robert Steven Stormont, Fraser John Laing Robb
  • Publication number: 20170343628
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a common mode trap for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus. In one embodiment, a common mode trap comprises: a first conductor and a second conductor counterwound around a length of a central conductor, the first and the second conductors radially spaced a distance from the central conductor, the first and second conductors fixed to a first side of the central conductor; and a third conductor and a fourth conductor counterwound around the length of the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors are radially spaced the distance from the central conductor, the third and fourth conductors fixed to a second side of the central conductor opposite the first side. In this way, the density of common mode trap conductors in a common mode trap may be increased, thereby increasing the mutual inductance between the common mode trap and the central conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Robert Steven Stormont, Fraser John Laing Robb, Louis Jay Vannatta
  • Patent number: 9645207
    Abstract: An adjustable MRI head coil apparatus and MRI system include a fixture and a plurality of plates attached to the fixture. Each of the plurality of plates includes a plurality of RF receive elements arranged in a fixed orientation. The adjustable MRI head coil apparatus and MRI system also include an actuator mechanism configured to adjust the relative position of each of the plurality of plates in order to fit a variety of different patient head sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Miguel A. Navarro, Darren C. Gregan, Kolman Juhasz, Sarah G. Leversee, Fraser J. Robb
  • Patent number: 9599686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Robert Steven Stormont
  • Patent number: 9494664
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore and at least one RF neck coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF neck coil is movable within the magnet bore under and separate from a table within the magnet bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Miguel Angel Navarro, Darren Charles Gregan
  • Publication number: 20160161577
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Robert Steven Stormont
  • Patent number: 9304178
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Robert Steven Stormont
  • Patent number: 9213072
    Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) traps and methods of common-mode energy damping are provided. One RF trap includes a body and a shutter holder rotatably coupled within the body, wherein the shutter holder is configured to rotate within the body about a longitudinal axis. The RF trap further including a magnetic flux shutter coupled to the shutter holder, wherein the magnetic flux shutter rotates within the body with the shutter holder to align the magnetic flux shutter at an angle within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Miguel Angel Navarro, Fraser Robb, Pei H. Chan
  • Patent number: 8928450
    Abstract: A transformer assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, a second spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, and a third spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, the first, second and third spiral wound inductive coils forming a triple spiral arrangement on the first surface such that the first coil is inductively coupled to the second coil and the third coil. An RF coil including the transformer assembly and a method of fabricating the transformer assembly are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Aleksey Zemskov, Vijayanand Alagappan, Miguel Navarro
  • Patent number: 8797030
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance (MR) Radio-Frequency (RF) coil and method of manufacturing are provided for a multi-modality imaging system. The multi-modality imaging system includes a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner portion configured to acquired MR data of a patient using one or more MR Radio-Frequency (RF) coils. The one or more MR RF coils are formed from carbon nanotube conductors. The multi-modality imaging system also includes a radiation potion configured to transmit radiation through or detect radiation from the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vijayanand Alagappan, Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb
  • Patent number: 8704610
    Abstract: A multi-layer cradle comprises a first layer comprising first and second contact pads configured to be electrically coupled to a signal input and a signal output of the electronic component, respectively. The first layer also comprises a first ground plane configured to be electrically coupled to a ground of the electronic component and a first fence positioned about the first ground plane. The first ground plane is positioned at least between the first and second contact pads. A second layer comprising a second ground plane is also included. The cradle further comprises a first dielectric material positioned between the first and second layers, a ground plane via extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first and second ground planes, and a plurality of fence vias extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first fence and to second ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser John Laing Robb, Vijayanand Alagappan, Miguel Angel Navarro, II, Peter Asuzu
  • Patent number: 8674799
    Abstract: A transformer assembly includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface, and a second spiral wound inductive coil formed on the first surface; the first and second spiral wound inductive coils forming a double spiral arrangement on the first surface such that the first coil is inductively coupled to the second coil. An RF coil including the transformer assembly and a method of fabricating the transformer assembly are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Aleksey Zemskov, Vijayanand Alagappan, Miguel Navarro
  • Publication number: 20130328565
    Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) traps and methods of common-mode energy damping are provided. One RF trap includes a body and a shutter holder rotatably coupled within the body, wherein the shutter holder is configured to rotate within the body about a longitudinal axis. The RF trap further including a magnetic flux shutter coupled to the shutter holder, wherein the magnetic flux shutter rotates within the body with the shutter holder to align the magnetic flux shutter at an angle within the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Miguel Angel Navarro, Fraser Robb, Pei H. Chan
  • Patent number: 8598878
    Abstract: An inductor assembly includes an electrical conductor having a first end and an opposite second end, and a plurality of turns, each turn having a first lobe and a second lobe, the electrical conductor being formed into a lemniscate shape. A Radio Frequency (RF) coil including the lemniscate shaped inductor and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system including the lemniscate shaped inductor are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser J. L. Robb, Aleksey Zemskov
  • Patent number: 8598880
    Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) coil apparatus for generating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image includes a body adapted to be worn by a subject being scanned, the body comprising an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and a transition portion coupled between the anterior and posterior portions, a first RF receive-only saddle coil including a first coil positioned in the anterior portion and a second coil positioned in the anterior portion, the first RF saddle coil configured to be positioned on the anterior and posterior sides of the subject. An MRI imaging system and method are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Taylan Dalveren, Victor Taracila, David Berendt
  • Publication number: 20130317346
    Abstract: A system for magnetic resonance imaging of anatomy including a head is provided. The system includes a base member, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of articulable reception units. The plurality of support members are movably fixed to the base member and configured to translate across a surface of the base member. Each support member is releasably securable to the base member in a plurality of positions along the surface of the base member. The articulable reception units are movable from an open position to a plurality of closed positions. Each reception unit comprises at least one radio frequency (RF) receive coil disposed within a body, with the body configured for abutment with a portion of a head. Each of the plurality of articulable reception units is releasably secured in the plurality of closed positions by at least one of the plurality of support members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vijayanand Alagappan, Fraser Robb, Miguel Angel Navarro, II, Craig William Culver, Victor Taracila, John Edward Ferut, Sarah Grace Leversee, Sanjay G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20130307540
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: VICTOR TARACILA, FRASER ROBB, ROBERT STEVEN STORMONT
  • Publication number: 20130307535
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore and at least one RF neck coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF neck coil is movable within the magnet bore under and separate from a table within the magnet bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Miguel Angel Navarro, Darren Charles Gregan
  • Patent number: 8427159
    Abstract: A balun assembly includes a body portion having an opening extending therethrough, the opening sized to receive at least one radio-frequency (RF) cable therethrough, the RF cable transmitting a signal therethrough a signal having a wavelength, and a balun disposed within the body portion, the balun being folded to form a plurality of layers, the combined length of the layers being approximately equal to a quarter wavelength of the signal transmitted through the RF cable. A method of fabricating a balun assembly and an MRI system including a balun are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Taracila, Fraser Robb, Aleksey Zemskov, Vijayanand Alagappan