Patents Examined by Brij B. Shrivastav
  • Patent number: 7671588
    Abstract: An MRI apparatus which obtains a tomogram of an object by utilizing magnetic resonance includes a calibrating device which figures out a relationship between a center frequency and an optimal gain of RF transmission with respect to a predetermined range of central frequencies, a saving device which saves information expressing said relationship, and a setting device which sets the RF transmission gain according to the center frequency during subsequent scanning by utilizing the saved information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Cao, Qingyu Dai
  • Patent number: 7671590
    Abstract: An imaging technique is disclosed to reduce ringing artifacts from amplitude decay in MR multi-echo acquisition. A flip angle train is determined to match scan parameters for an MR scan to acquire MR data from a given tissue. Reducing the effects of amplitude decay in the echo signal reduces ringing artifacts and thereby improves image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hari Hariharan, Anthony T. Vu
  • Patent number: 7671593
    Abstract: A system for isolating vibration and reducing acoustic noise in the RF coil of an MR imaging apparatus is presented. The system positions an RF conductor in its operative position proximate to an RF support form. The RF conductor is sandwiched between a vibration decoupling layer and a mass loading layer. The vibration decoupling layer is affixed to the RF support form so that the vibration decoupling layer is positioned between the RF conduit and the RF support form while the mass loading layer is located exterior of the RF conductor. By this arrangement, the acoustic energy is decoupled from the RF support form by the vibration decoupling layer while the vibration is reduced by the mass loading layer located exterior of the RF conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David M. Goldhaber, Darren Lee Hallman, Anton Max Linz
  • Patent number: 7671595
    Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in MRI. One example apparatus includes at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that are connected by a coil that includes an LC (inductance-capacitance) leg. The apparatus includes a controller that inputs a digital signal to the FETs to control the production of an output analog radio frequency (RF) signal. The LC leg is to selectively alter the output analog RF signal and the analog RF signal is used in parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Mark A. Griswold, Jeremiah A. Heilman, Matthew J. Riffe, Oliver Heid, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 7667461
    Abstract: A spectroscopic sample analysis apparatus includes an actively controlled, direct contact heat exchanger in serial fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer, and a controller communicably coupled to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is disposed downstream of a fluid handler in the form of a stream selection unit (SSU), a solvent/standard recirculation unit (SRU), and/or an auto-sampling unit (ASU). The SSU selectively couples individual stream inputs to an output port. The SRU includes a solvent/standard reservoir, and selectively couples output ports to the heat exchanger, and returns the solvent/standard sample to the reservoirs. The ASU includes a sample reservoir having a sample transfer pathway with a plurality of orifices disposed at spaced locations along a length thereof. The controller selectively actuates the fluid handler, enabling sample to flow therethrough to the heat exchanger, and actuates the heat exchanger to maintain the sample at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Marcus Trygstad, Russell Jackson, Bruce A. Keen
  • Patent number: 7667462
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus that may be used in connection with a variety of different tools, including a down-hole side-wall coring tool as well as with manufacturing process controllers. In one embodiment, the nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus may include a magnet assembly constructed around a sample chamber. The magnet assembly is constructed and arranged to provide a non-uniform magnetic field having a known magnetic field gradient inside the sample chamber. The use of gradient fields may allow for a more flexible and robust magnet assembly design that may be suitable for a variety of different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Qiao Song, Richard Gaylor
  • Patent number: 7667459
    Abstract: Methods, systems, software arrangements and storage medium for measuring the magnetic field correlation function (“MFC”), and more particularly, to methods for measuring the magnetic field correlation function utilizing asymmetric spin echoes. Asymmetric Dual Spin Echo Sequences (“ADSE”) and Echo Planar Imaging Asymmetric Dual Spin Echo Sequences (“EPI-ADSE”) may be employed to apply multiple echoes to a sample and acquire data from which the MFC may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Jens Jensen, Joseph A. Helpern, Glyn Johnson, Ramesh Chandra
  • Patent number: 7667457
    Abstract: A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Anton M. Linz, Chang L. Kim, Jim L. Malaney, David L. McDaniel, Robert S. Stormont, Ricardo Becerra
  • Patent number: 7667463
    Abstract: An RF receiver antenna (1), notably for use in an magnetic resonance imaging system for picking up magnetic resonance signals comprises a resonant pick-up circuit and communication unit (2) to transmit and/or receive data and including a transmit/receive antenna integrated in the resonant pick-up circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Marinus J. A. M. Van Helvoort
  • Patent number: 7663364
    Abstract: A sequence control unit reconstructs image data by performing predetermined image reconstruction including data synthesis processing on a plurality of k-space data collected for each receiver channel. An inverse reconstructing unit creates k-space data synthesized from the K-space data by performing predetermined inverse reconstruction on the reconstructed image data. A data compressing unit compresses the k-space data, and stores the compressed k-space data into a k-space data storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takai
  • Patent number: 7663366
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a magnet configured to form a static magnetic field in an imaging area; a cylindrical structure having a guide; a radio frequency coil configured to receive a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated by transmitting a radio frequency signal into a object set in the static magnetic field; and a radio frequency coil drive structure configured to adjust a distance between the radio frequency coil and a body surface of the object by using a moving structure configured to move along with the guide, a wire configured to move the moving structure and a motor connected to the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Takamori
  • Patent number: 7663368
    Abstract: An arrangement for radiation of a radio-frequency field into an examination subject has a local coil unit with a housing. An insulating dielectric material is embodied at least at one part of the housing in order to passively compensate an inhomogeneity of the B1 field that occurs in the examination subject. An adjustment arrangement allows for fixed but detachable provision of the insulating dielectric material at the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Razvan Lazar, Wolfgang Renz, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 7663365
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which performs imaging more than once with respect to an imaging target while changing a central frequency of a fat suppression pulse, a generation unit which generates a plurality of images based on magnetic resonance signals obtained by imaging performed more than once, and a calculation unit which calculates factor information of spatial inhomogeneity of a fat suppression effect based on the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 7663363
    Abstract: A method for measuring nuclear magnetic properties (NMR) properties of a formation, the method including applying a magnetic field to nuclei of the formation during a polarizing interval, the magnetic field having a polarizing intensity; changing the magnetic field to a measurement intensity, the measurement intensity applied to the nuclei of the formation during a measurement interval; applying to the formation at least one radio frequency (RF) pulse train during the measurement interval; and measuring an NMR signal from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Arcady Reiderman
  • Patent number: 7659719
    Abstract: An magnetic resonance apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a coil having at least two sections, (b) the at least two sections having a resonant circuit, (c) the at least two sections being reactively coupled or decoupled, (d) the at least two sections being separable, (e) the coil having openings allowing a subject to see or hear and to be accessed through the coil, (f) a cushioned head restraint, and (g) a subject input/output device providing visual data to the subject, the input/output device being selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, video monitors, LCD devices, and optical motion trackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: MR Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: John Thomas Vaughan, Mark A Watson, Kenneth M Bradshaw, Matthew T Waks, Joshua J Holwell
  • Patent number: 7659718
    Abstract: A method of providing a magnetic resonance spectral image (MRSI) is provided. A magnetic resonance imaging excitation is applied. Data is acquired, comprising applying an oscillating gradient in a first dimension and applying blips in at least a second dimension in a pseudo-random order to acquire pseudo-random temporally undersampled spectral data in at least two planes. The pseudo-random order is used to reconstruct a magnetic resonance spectral image in at least two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michael Lustig, Zhong-Min Hu, Daniel B. Vigneron, John M. Pauly
  • Patent number: 7659720
    Abstract: An observation-point arranging unit arranges an observation point indicating a portion to be included in a slice area on a positioning image displayed on a display device. A scanning-condition receiving unit receives a specification of a scanning condition including number of movements of a couch on which an object is placed during scanning and a size of the slice area. A slice-area setting unit sets the slice area including the observation point for each position to which the couch is to be moved, based on the observation point and the scanning condition. A scanning unit scans the object multiple times while moving the couch, based on the slice area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Naoyuki Furudate
  • Patent number: 7656158
    Abstract: A sample vessel (80) made of material with magnetic susceptibility ?2, for containing a sample substance (87) with magnetic susceptibility ?3??2 to be analyzed in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, has an inner interface G2 toward the sample substance and an outer interface G1 toward the environment (85) that exhibits magnetic susceptibility ?1. The shape of the interface toward the sample substance and the interface toward the environment are coordinated to match the discontinuities in susceptibility at the interfaces in such a way that on introduction of the sample tube filled with sample substance into the previously homogeneous magnetic field of an NMR spectrometer, the magnetic field inside the sample substance remains largely homogeneous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin AG
    Inventors: Michael Fey, Thomas Speck
  • Patent number: 7656155
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an imaging unit applying a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency pulse to an inspection body in an magnetostatic field and generating a magnetic resonance signal, a bed having a top panel for placing the inspection body thereon and sliding the top panel in a longitudinal direction, a radio frequency coil for detecting the magnetic resonance signal, a display unit displaying a positioning image, a determining unit determining an ROI (a region of interest) on the basis of designation on the positioning image, a comparing unit comparing the ROI with an available FOV (a field of view) defined by the magnetostatic field, a calculating unit calculating a plurality of FOVs including the ROI when the comparing unit determines that the size of the ROI is greater than that of the available FOV, and a control unit controlling the imaging unit, the bed, and the radio frequency coil so as to perform an imaging operation on each of the FOVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Tatebayashi
  • Patent number: 7656157
    Abstract: A method for improving the precision of time domain low field H-NMR analysis, the method comprising rotating a sample within a RF coil and acquiring multiple time domain signals for the sample at multiple orientations within the RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Thomas Riddel Smith, Pierre Nazareth Tutunjian