Patents Represented by Attorney Ziolkowski Patent Solutions Group, SC

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  • Rotary game table
    Patent number: 7762902
    Abstract: A rotary game table includes a combination game table, two side support members, and at least one cross member. The combination game table includes a pool table surface formed on one side and an air powered hockey table surface formed on the opposite side. The at least one cross member is terminated on each end by a single side support member. The combination game table is pivotally retained by a side support member on each end thereof. To pivotally constrain the combination game table, at least one locking pin device is used; in a second embodiment at least two pivotal support arms; and in a fourth embodiment a pair of support latches. A third embodiment includes at least one side support member configured to retain a plurality of game accessories. A gaming table may be substituted for the air hockey table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Justin L. Voden
  • System and method of forming a low profile conformal shield
    Patent number: 7752751
    Abstract: A system and method for providing shielding to an electrical system is disclosed. A conformal shield is formed by applying a conformal insulating coating to an electrical system. A plurality of openings are formed in the insulating coating at desired locations and a first metallic layer is deposited over the insulating coating and in each of the plurality of openings, the first metallic layer being electrically connected with the circuit board at the desired locations. A second metallic layer is then deposited onto the first metallic layer to increase a thickness of the metallic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher James Kapusta, Donald Cunningham, Richard Joseph Saia
  • Diagnostic imaging two non K-edge basis materials plus N K-edge contrast agents
    Patent number: 7756239
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system in an example comprises a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged and be resolved by the system. The detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector. The computer is operably connected to the DAS and programmed to employ an inversion table or function to convert N+2 measured projections at different incident spectra into material specific integrals for N+2 materials that comprise two non K-edge basis materials and N K-edge contrast agents. N comprises an integer greater than or equal to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, Robert F. Senzig, Deborah Joy Walter, James W. LeBlanc, John Eric Tkaczyk
  • Method and system of enhanced phase suppression for phase-contrast MR imaging
    Patent number: 7755355
    Abstract: An automated image processing technique is disclosed that evaluates pixels of a phase-difference image to determine those pixels corresponding to inflowing phase data and background phase data. Phase-difference images are generated from a first acquisition and a second acquisition. Non-zero spatially varying background phase from the phase-difference images that are due to eddy currents induced by flow encoding gradients used to generate the phase-difference images is determined. This non-zero spatially varying background phase is removed from the phase-difference images to determine phase associated with flowing spins and phase associated with stationary spins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason A. Polzin
  • CT gantry mounted radioactive source loader for PET calibration
    Patent number: 7755057
    Abstract: A medical imaging system is provided including a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging apparatus and a computed tomography (CT) imaging apparatus. The CT imaging apparatus includes a rotatable gantry. A radioactive source loader is attached to the rotatable gantry to rotate therewith. The radioactive source loader further includes a radioactive source to calibrate the PET imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Chang L. Kim
  • Method and system to grant indefinite use of software options resident on a device
    Patent number: 7739725
    Abstract: A system for granting indefinite use of inactivated software options pre-installed on a device is provided. The system includes receiving, at a remote processing facility, a recurrent use request from a user requesting access to an inactivated software option resident on the device. The system is further configured to validate the request and generate an activation key. The activation key is transmitted from the processing facility to the device automatically activating the option and granting recurrent access. The activation key or code is generated at the processing facility using data from at least one of a user identifier, a system identifier, a recurrent use identifier, and the selected option. A method to permit recurrent use of resident, yet, inactivated software of a device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Zhang, Karamjeet Singh, William G. Blair, Winnie C. Durbin, Michael R. Minogue
  • System and method for identifying periodic motion complexes for MR imaging triggering
    Patent number: 7738943
    Abstract: A system and method for MR imaging is disclosed that includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is included that is programed to generate a motion waveform from a physiological signal acquired from a subject to be imaged and compare a shape of the motion waveform to a shape of a reference motion waveform to identify points in the motion waveform corresponding to a periodic complex. The computer is also programed to trigger MR data acquisition from the subject upon identification of the periodic complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Liewei Sha, Sanjay G. Mathias, Louis M. Frigo
  • System and method for amplitude reduction in RF pulse design
    Patent number: 7737690
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for adjusting RF pulses and gradient waveforms to reduce B1 field magnitude in MR imaging sequences. When an RF pulse is presented which has a high amplitude segment that would exceed a maximum B1 magnitude, the system and method provided herein can apply a variable slew rate design technique. A slew rate of at least one gradient waveform can be varied to reduce a B1 field magnitude during transmission of the high amplitude segment of the RF pulse. By controlling the slew rate of gradient waveforms for non-Cartesian k-space trajectories according to a calculated maximum allowable slew rate function, embodiments of the system and method can, in effect, reduce gradient amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dan Xu, Kevin F. King
  • Whole body MRI scanning with moving table and interactive control
    Patent number: 7738944
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for high sensitivity whole body scanning using MR imaging. The invention includes acquiring MR data as the patient moves through the iso-center of the magnet while providing interactive control for the operator to change scan parameters and table motion and direction. The technique allows efficient whole body scanning for fast screening of abnormalities while allowing operator control during the screening process to interrupt table motion and redirect the speed and direction of the table while also allowing control over the acquisition plane, number of sections imaged, inter-section spacing, and the scan location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, United States of America Department of Defense
    Inventors: Vincent B. Ho, Thomas K. F. Foo
  • Step-and-shoot cardiac CT imaging
    Patent number: 7734005
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
  • Apparatus and method of use of a high-voltage diagnostic tool for x-ray systems
    Patent number: 7722252
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool for an x-ray imaging system includes a first test device configured to simulate a first load condition of an x-ray tube, and a first connector electrically coupled to the first test device and configured to couple the first test device to a high-voltage generator in the x-ray imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Liang Tang, John Breunissen, Eric Biehr
  • Apparatus for x-ray generation and method of making same
    Patent number: 7720200
    Abstract: A composite target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate and at least one material applied to the target substrate with a laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Steinlage, Michael Hebert, Michael Lathrop, Kirk A. Rogers, Thomas C. Tiearney, Jr.
  • System and method for fast MR imaging of metabolites at selective excitation frequencies
    Patent number: 7719269
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for imaging multiple substances, such as contrast agents and metabolites in vivo, with selective excitation frequencies. A first substance is excited with a frequency selective pulse, then a second substance is excited with another frequency selective pulse. The signals resulting from these pulses are acquired in an order reversed from the order in which the pulses were applied. In some embodiments, more than two substances may be imaged. The system and method thus provide for quick and efficient utilization of the magnetization of multiple substances for spectral-spatial imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stefan Petersson, Sven Månsson
  • Method and apparatus for enhanced magnetic preparation in MR imaging
    Patent number: 7714575
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of enhanced magnetic preparation in MR imaging. An imaging technique is disclosed such that k-space is segmented into a number of partitions, wherein the central regions of k-space is acquired prior to the periphery of k-space. The imaging technique also includes the application of magnetic preparation pulses at a variable rate. In this regard, the rate of application of magnetic preparations pulses is varied as a function of the distance from the center of k-space. The amplitude of the magnetic preparation pulses is also varied based on the incremental distance of a partition from the center of k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Manojkumar Saranathan, Thomas K. F. Foo
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring wellness of contactors and starters
    Patent number: 7705601
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the remaining useable life, or “wellness,” of a contactor or motor starter, and for predicting impending faults of such a device, is disclosed. By monitoring actuating coil current, actuating coil voltage, line current, and/or line voltage, the present invention can calculate wellness metrics which, when compared to threshold values, may be used as indicators of remaining life and/or imminent failures. The invention also provides non-mechanical positive indications of proper closures and openings of contacts for safety interlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Jan Walker
  • System and method for predictive thermal output control of a medical device
    Patent number: 7706856
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling thermal output of a medical device is disclosed. A thermal controller receives operational parameters for an impending use of a medical device and predicts a thermal output of the medical device from the operational parameters. The thermal controller compares the predicted thermal output to a desired limit on thermal output and, if the predicted thermal output exceeds the desired limit on thermal output, dynamically controls power consumption by the medical device to maintain an actual thermal output substantially at or below the desired limit on thermal output during use of the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David E. Dean, Ariel Friedlander
  • X-ray flux management device
    Patent number: 7706508
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an x-ray flux management device that adaptively attenuates an x-ray beam to limit the incident flux reaching a subject and radiographic detectors in potentially high-flux areas while not affecting the incident flux and detector measurements in low-flux regions. While the invention is particularly well-suited for CT, the invention is also applicable with other x-ray imaging systems. In addition to reducing the required detector system dynamic range, the present invention provides an added advantage of reducing radiation dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jerome Stephen Arenson, David Ruimi, Oded Meirav, Robert Harry Armstrong
  • Movable axle guard for a compactor wheel
    Patent number: D615563
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Terra Compactor Wheel Corp.
    Inventor: Robert John Brockway
  • Horizontal scissor tip compaction cleat
    Patent number: D617351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Terra Compactor Wheel Corp.
    Inventor: Robert John Brockway
  • Tetra-hex inversion compaction cleat
    Patent number: D617817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Terra Compactor Wheel Corp.
    Inventor: Robert John Brockway