Patents Represented by Attorney Peter L. Kendall
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Patent number: 7548649Abstract: A seed point is selected inside a structure that is to be segmented in image data. An adaptive model is defined around the seed point, and a preprocessing filter is applied only within the bounding region. A presegmentation of the preprocessed result is performed, and the bounding region is expanded if necessary to accommodate the presegmentation result. An adaptive model for post-processing may be used. The model is translated, rotated and scaled to find a best fit with the pre-segmented data.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Carlos E. Cardenas, Thomas Stingl, Marc Rose
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Patent number: 7533428Abstract: A medical support assembly for a moving pallet of a diagnostic imaging device is provided. The medical support assembly includes a support member having an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse shaft mounted substantially orthogonal with respect to the support member. The medical support assembly further includes a mounting adapter assembly supported by an attachment bracket of the moving pallet, the mounting adapter assembly being removably mounted and configured to enable rotational movement of the support member upon a substantial impact to the support member.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: David A. Yunker
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Patent number: 7535011Abstract: An imaging radiation detector includes a scintillator coupled to an array of photodiodes operating in Geiger mode. The array is divided into separate detector pixels, each of which is composed of a multiplicity of photodiode cells with their outputs tied together. While each of the cells operates independently in a binary or digital mode, by tying together the outputs of a multiplicity of adjacent photodiode cells forming a single pixel, the sum of the outputs is proportional to the intensity of generated scintillation photons, similar to the output of a PMT. Appropriate quenching circuitry is provided to rapidly reset the photodiodes after scintillation photon detection.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Samir Chowdhury, Jinhun Joung
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Patent number: 7521681Abstract: Transaxial radionuclide imaging is implemented without relative rotation between detectors and a patient by employing a collimator comprising segments sharing a common central axis, each segment having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, wherein the segments are angularly displaced from one another about the common central axis. Embodiments include SPECT systems comprising a polygonal detector having a collimator on at least two sides thereof. Embodiments further include collimators comprising six segments, each offset by an angle of 7 to 9°.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Eric Grant Hawman
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Patent number: 7503831Abstract: A system and method for cutting soluble scintillator material are disclosed. The system includes a scintillator cutting apparatus including a filament rotated around a plurality of pulleys in at least one direction and in operative proximity to the material thereby cutting the material. The system also includes a linear motion motor operatively connected to the scintillator cutting apparatus for moving the apparatus to position the filament in operative proximity and a linear motion speed sensor for sensing rate of movement of the apparatus as the apparatus is moved by the linear motion motor to position the filament in operative proximity. The system further includes a master motor controller operatively connected to the linear motion motor and the linear motion sensor, wherein the master motor controller controls the linear motion motor as a function of sensed information obtained from the linear motion speed sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Olexy V. Radkevich, Keith Ritter, Yuriy Yakovlev
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Patent number: 7501619Abstract: A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner may have a PET gantry, a calibration radiation source arranged rotatable in the PET gantry, and a drive mechanism coupled with the calibration radiation source, wherein the drive mechanism is formed by non ferromagnetic materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Martin, Ziad Burbar, James Luke Corbeil
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Patent number: 7498566Abstract: A quality control mechanism for a nuclear camera system having a field of view includes at least one source assembly for a radioactive material. The source assembly is configured to automatically remotely move the radioactive material into the field of view and automatically remotely move the radioactive material out of the field of view. The nuclear camera system may have a patient handling system. The quality control mechanism is integrated with the patient handling system at the front end. The radioactive material may be configured as a line source or a point source. A multiple head registration shield tube assembly may extend over the line source to substantially limit the radioactivity emitted by a number of slots in the shield tube assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Robert Kasper, Jeffrey A. Giannini
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Patent number: 7498582Abstract: A pinhole collimator is provided that eliminates or at least minimizes the need for collimator exchange, to manage system sensitivity versus spatial resolution tradeoff, and to control imaging FOV (field of view) depending on object size by controlling the focal length of the collimator. There is also provided a detector system is that includes a detector, a collimator, and means for changing the focal length. Various means for changing the focal length are also identified. The collimator can have a plurality of apertures in a top plate, each aperture with its own collimator septa. Additionally, there is provided a medical imaging system that includes the detector system and collimator of the present invention. The nuclear medical imaging systems can have a hand-held detector assembly and be portable.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Jinhun Joung
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Patent number: 7493806Abstract: A test unit is electrically coupled between a motion controller and each of first and second redundant brakes. The test unit is responsive to the motion controller for automatically selecting one of the brakes to be tested. A microcontroller receives a signal from the motion controller that identifies one of the redundant brakes for activation, or deactivation, by an associated microcontroller output. The microcontroller outputs may be coupled respectively to activation terminals of respective brake switches connected in parallel to a brake activation voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Patanit Sanpitak
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Patent number: 7495930Abstract: A circuit board which has a high speed digital circuit in close proximity to a sensitive analog structure has a grounded, conductive band interposed between them and a ground plane with two separate, grounded portions, with a first of the portions underlying the digital circuit and a second portion underlying the analog structure. In an exemplary embodiment, the circuit board has a high density of analog-to-digital converter integrated circuits, each with two analog input signals and ten parallel high speed digital output signals corresponding to each input signal. A grounded, conductive band is placed on the board between the inputs and outputs of the integrated circuit, and a ground plane is provide which has separate, interleaved analog and digital areas, with the digital area underlying only portions of the board having digital signals and structures and the analog area underlying only portions of the board having analog signals and structures.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: James Frank Caruba
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Patent number: 7495222Abstract: A system for multiplexing photodetector signals from a scintillation detector. The system includes a detector module having a number of scintillator blocks, each scintillator block having a number of photosensors, and a number of multiplexing circuits. Each multiplexing circuit includes a number of inputs, a signal polarity inverter and at least one differential output attached to the signal polarity inverter. The multiplexing system inverts the polarity of preselected signals from the photosensors and selectively combines signals of different polarities to calculate event positioning and total energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Nan Zhang, Matthias J. Schmand, Niraj K. Doshi
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Patent number: 7490394Abstract: A nut and screw set for reducing the amount of hindered motion therebetween is disclosed. The nut and screw set includes a screw and a nut. The screw includes a plurality of screw threads. The nut includes a plurality of nut threads. The nut threads are threadably engagable with the screw threads. The nut threads are sized reduce hindered motion between the screw and the nut as a result of thermal expansion of the screw and the nut.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Edward Zakrzewski
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Patent number: 7483518Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radiator housing, an X-ray tube, a source of X-rays and at least one filtration material disposed on the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and is disposed at least partially within the radiator housing. The source of X-rays emits at least one X-ray beam at least partially through the X-ray tube. The X-ray beam exits the X-ray tube at an annular X-ray window. The filtration material at least partially covers a portion of the annular X-ray window. Rotation of the X-ray tube causes the X-ray beam to pass through a plurality of locations in the annular X-ray window and at least a portion of the X-ray beam is filtered by the filtration material.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: James J. Hamill
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Patent number: 7483023Abstract: A seed point is selected inside a structure that is to be segmented in image data. An adaptive model is defined around the seed point, and a preprocessing filter is applied only within the bounding region. A presegmentation of the preprocessed result is performed, and the bounding region is expanded if necessary to accommodate the presegmentation result. An adaptive model for post-processing may be used. The model is translated, rotated and scaled to find a best fit with the pre-segmented data. Additional models can be grown based on testing performed on points on a perimeter of previous models to improve the segmentation of an object.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Carlos E. Cardenas, Steven F. Owens
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Patent number: 7473900Abstract: Generation of attenuation maps for nuclear medicine image reconstructions based on the use of anatomical image data, such as CT data, take into account variations caused by variations in acquisition energy width and emission energy of the radioisotope used in the clinical imaging procedure, as coefficient correction factors that are stored together with such maps.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: A Hans Vija
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Patent number: 7470906Abstract: Method and apparatus for varying the hole length of a parallel hole collimator, provides a variably configurable compound collimator for use in nuclear imaging. The collimator has a plurality of substantially parallel oriented collimator cores configured for transition between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein a gap space between said collimator cores is greater in the expanded configuration than the contracted configuration. The maximum gap space is designed to prevent photons from one hole in the collimator from reaching the detector proximate an adjacent hole of the collimator.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: A. Hans Vija
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Patent number: 7468509Abstract: A single interconnection unit provides all of the signal connections required to operate a group of PMTs and to transmit signals therefrom to acquisition electronics exterior to an enclosure for the PMTs in a nuclear scanner. In a preferred embodiment, the interconnection unit provides a shielded differential pair connection for RF signals; power supply connections for the PMTs, providing all of the voltages required to operate PMTs and the associated circuits, as well as connections for those signals and appropriate ground planes. Preferably, interconnection unit comprises a flex circuit with end connectors designed to connect to a power supply unit and an acquisition unit remote from the PMTs.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: James Frank Caruba
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Patent number: 7465928Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cables around a rotating gantry which includes a guide chain having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a stationary portion of the rotating gantry and the second end is connected to a rotating portion of the gantry. The apparatus for guiding cables around a rotating gantry also includes means for maintaining the guide chain adjacent to at least one of the stationary portion and the rotating portion of the rotating gantry. Specifically, the means for maintaining the guide chain adjacent to at least one of the stationary portion and the rotating portion of the rotating gantry includes a plurality of plates connected to the guide chain and a magnetic strip positioned adjacent to at least one of the stationary portion and the rotating portion of the rotating gantry. The plurality of plates is preferably formed of a ferrous metal.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Michael Robert Campbell, Edward Zakrzewski
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Patent number: 7465929Abstract: A method and system for automatically identifying and tracking a ROI over all planar acquisition view angles of a nuclear imaging system, such as a gamma camera used for SPECT or planar imaging. Temporal intensity variation in emission projection imaging is measured to identify a region of interest (ROI) such as the myocardium. The method automatically tracks the location of the ROI over different planar view angles and adapts detector head orbit and positioning to bring the ROI within a predefined preferred area or so-called “sweet spot” within the FOV of a collimator attached to the front of a scintillation detector surface. After initial positioning of the detector head by the user, the system automatically tracks the ROI location as the detector head(s) rotate about the patient and re-position the detector head(s) appropriately to maintain the ROI within the optimal collimation area of the detector FOV.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: A. Hans Vija
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Patent number: 7465927Abstract: For patient transmission data acquired simultaneously with patient emission data, blank transmission data are acquired in the absence of the patient emission and therefore under count rate conditions different from the count rate conditions of the patient transmission data. To prevent the different count rate conditions from causing artifacts in reconstructed tomographic images, a correction is made for spatially varying count rate effects on the attenuation correction. For example, the blank scan data are adjusted according to the count rate at which the patient emission data are acquired, and the adjusted blank scan data and the patient transmission data are used for attenuation correction of the patient emission data used for reconstructing a tomographic image.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Vladimir Panin, Maurizio Conti, Michael E. Casey