Patents Examined by Frederick Wenderoth
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Patent number: 10691057Abstract: A controller controls a secondary transfer power source such that a current having a first value flows in a secondary transfer portion in a case where a transfer material with an image formed on a first surface thereof has been conveyed for less than a predetermined amount of time in a second conveyance path. Moreover, the controller controls the secondary transfer power source such that a current having a second value larger in absolute value than the first value flows in the secondary transfer portion in a case where the transfer material with an image formed on the first surface thereof is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion after waiting for the predetermined amount of time or more in the second conveyance path.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Taisuke Minagawa, Ken Yokoyama, Yasuharu Hirado
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Patent number: 10684573Abstract: An image forming method includes: placing developer on a medium in accordance with image data to form a developer image; and fixing the developer image to the medium while conveying the medium along a conveying direction. The image forming method further includes: determining, as a blocked region, a region of the developer image where no developer is placed and whose upstream side in the conveying direction is blocked by a developer region where the developer is placed; and forming at least one groove extending in the conveying direction in an upstream region of the developer image that is located upstream of the blocked region in the conveying direction and included in the developer region.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventors: Teruaki Kuroda, Masahiro Kawano, Yoshiaki Kusakabe
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Patent number: 10670680Abstract: Methods for magnetic resonance fingerprinting (“MRF”) that are more robust to patient motion than conventional MRF techniques are described. The methods described in the present disclosure provide an image reconstruction algorithm for MRF that decreases the motion sensitivity of MRF.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Case Western Reserve UniversityInventors: Bhairav Bipin Mehta, Mark A. Griswold
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Patent number: 10670992Abstract: A developer container includes a containing device, a support member, and a crumbling device. The containing device contains developer therein and is rotated so as to transport the developer. The support member supports the containing device such that the containing device is rotatable. The support member has an outlet through which the developer transported by the containing device flows out. The crumbling device is supported such that the crumbling device is rotatable together with the containing device. The crumbling device is, when the containing device is rotated, rotated so as to crumble the developer. The crumbling device includes a body portion and an applying member. The body portion extends from a region near the containing device toward the outlet. The applying member is formed in the body portion. The applying member applies a force for transporting the developer toward the outlet when the crumbling device is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventor: Kazuhiko Sakai
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Patent number: 10663543Abstract: A device for recovering a temporal reference in a free-running magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) receive chain includes a time reference encoder and a time reference decoder. The time reference encoder is configured to generate a modulation signal as a function of a reference clock, where the modulation signal is configured for a correlation with a temporal resolution less than a maximum predetermined phase deviation and a maximum that may clearly be identified. The time reference decoder is configured to receive, via the first signal input, a receive signal as a function of the modulation signal, perform a correlation with a reference signal, and generate a signal as a function of a temporal reference of the modulation signal in the receive signal in relation to the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Stephan Biber, Jan Bollenbeck, Sven Heggen, Martin Nisznansky, Markus Vester
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Patent number: 10648934Abstract: A method includes applying, to a sample exhibiting optical scattering and having a emission particles distributed therein that exhibit spin-dependent fluorescence, a magnetic field to shift a resonance frequency of each emission particle in a position-dependent manner. The method also includes exciting the sample with an excitation beam that causes at least one emission particle to emit spin-dependent fluorescence and detecting the emitted spin-dependent fluorescence. The method also includes estimating a position of the emission particle(s) within the sample based on the spin-dependent fluorescence, the resonance frequency, and the magnetic field. The method also includes estimating optical transmission information for the sample based on a wavefront of the excitation beam and the estimated position. The optical transmission information including a measure of an optical field at each position of an emission particle.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Donggyu Kim, Dirk Robert Englund
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Patent number: 10649058Abstract: A method for recording a magnetic resonance data set relating to a region that is moved at least partly and periodically includes prompting a trigger signal. The method also includes emitting a saturation pulse to at least partially saturate magnetization of an examination region as a function of the trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Ralf Kartäusch, Dominik Paul
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Patent number: 10641855Abstract: Obtaining minimum duration parallel transmit pulses for simultaneous multislice imaging that includes minimizing specific absorption rate hotspots, using an IMPULSE pTx optimization method to determine multiple spoke locations and multiple channel weights for multiple slices while enforcing a specified flip angle inhomogeneity tolerance over the multiple slices when excited, applying a control algorithm to conform a simultaneous multislice (SMS) pulse to the excited multiple slices to minimize a cost function having terms corresponding to an excitation accuracy and a pulse power, where a regularization term in the cost function is configured by the control algorithm for excitation accuracy while limiting a peak pulse power, and applying a time-optimal variable rate selective excitation (VERSE) to enforce a peak power constraint with a minimum pulse duration by reshaping a RF waveform and a gradient waveform without altering an excitation profile if the peak power limit on a channel is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Mihir Pendse, Brian Rutt
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Patent number: 10613178Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: a scanner equipped with at least a static magnetic field magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field, a gradient coil configured to apply gradient pulses, and an RF coil configured to apply RF pulses to an object and receive magnetic resonance signals from the object; and processing circuitry configured to set at least one pulse sequence which includes a labeling pulse for labeling fluid in the object, an excitation pulse applied after the labeling pulse, and a bipolar or unipolar velocity encoding gradient pulse for encoding velocity information of the fluid, and generate an image of the fluid from the magnetic resonance signals which the scanner acquires by performing the at least one pulse sequence.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Tokunori Kimura, Naotaka Sakashita
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Patent number: 10605751Abstract: A quantification of a particular element comprised in magnetic particles enclosed in a volume involves applying a first time-varying magnetic field to the volume, having a first magnitude and a first frequency and applying a second time varying magnetic field, not parallel with the first magnetic field for causing precession of the magnetized particles. The second magnetic field is an RF field having a second frequency equal to the Larmor-frequency of the particular element. Thereafter the resultant magnetization originating from the volume and modulated by the time-varying field is measured, and at least one frequency component of the resultant magnetization is determined. A power and/or voltage of the at least one frequency component is calculated and a quantity of the magnetic particles enclosed in the volume is determined based thereon.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: PEPRIC NVInventor: Joeri Verbiest
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Patent number: 10598752Abstract: Provided are a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and method for obtaining a plurality of MR images having different contrasts by using a single pulse sequence. The MRI apparatus includes a controller configured to control a pulse sequence of one cycle to be applied to a plurality of slices of an object, wherein the one cycle includes a first obtaining section during which a first inversion radio frequency (RF) pulse is applied to a first slice of the object and a second obtaining section during which a second inversion RF pulse is applied to a second slice of the object adjacent to the first slice, and to sequentially obtain a first MR signal for capturing a first MR image of the first slice, a second MR signal for capturing at least one second MR image of the second slice adjacent to the first slice, and a third MR signal for capturing at least one third MR image of the first slice, during the first obtaining section.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATIONInventors: Jin-hee Jeong, Jongho Lee
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Patent number: 10599077Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a heater to heat an image formed on a recording material. The heater has a plurality of heat generating elements. A control portion controls electrical power supplied to the plurality of heat generating elements. The control portion respectively sets a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is formed and a heating amount with respect to a region in which an image is not formed in a single sheet of the recording material. The control portion is further configured to at least set the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is heavy paper to become less than the heating amount with respect to the region in which the image is not formed when the recording material is plain paper.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Iwasaki
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Patent number: 10591563Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry controls execution of a pulse sequence which includes a first segment and a second segment being provided prior to the first segment. The first segment is where signal acquisition is performed. The second segment is where longitudinal magnetization and transverse magnetization are reduced by applying a plurality of RF magnetic field pulses while changing a magnitude and/or a phase thereof and a plurality of spoiler gradient field pulses.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Daiki Tamada, Takashi Watanabe
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Patent number: 10591844Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying body to transfer developer to a photosensitive body. The developer carrying body has an outer circumference and grooves spaced apart along the outer circumference. The grooves occupy 27% or more of the outer circumference. The developing carrying body is rotatable in a rotational direction that imparts the developing carrying body with a direction of movement that is opposite to a direction of movement of the photosensitive body, at a position between the developer carrying body and the photosensitive body.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY L.P.Inventor: Yuya Kato
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Patent number: 10578699Abstract: A system includes a storage device storing a set of instructions and a processor in communication with the storage device. When executing the instructions, the processor is configured to cause the system to obtain one or more scanning parameters. The processor is also configured to cause the system to determine a first flip angle of a first fat suppression RF pulse and a second flip angle of a second fat suppression RF pulse. The processor is further configured to cause the system to scan a subject by applying an RF pulse sequence including the first fat suppression RF pulse, the second fat suppression RF pulse, and an excitation RF pulse. The processor is also configured to cause the system to receive magnetic resonance signals based on the scanning of the subject and reconstructing an image of the subject based on the MR signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.Inventors: Liu Liu, Aiguo Xue
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Patent number: 10578687Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving (RX) radio-frequency (RF) signals suitable for MRI and/or MRS from MRI “coil loops” (antennae) that are overlapped and/or concentric, and each of which has a preamplifier and frequency-tuning circuitry and an impedance-matching circuitry, but wherein the loops optionally sized differently and/or located at different elevations (distances from the patient's tissue) in order to extract signal from otherwise cross-coupled coil loops and to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in images made from the received signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignees: Life Services, LLCInventors: David A. Feinberg, Scott M. Schillak
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Patent number: 10564591Abstract: A photosensitive member unit includes photosensitive drums and a frame including positioning portions. One and the other end shaft portions of the photosensitive drums are movable between first positions in which the above-mentioned one and the other end shaft portions are positioned by the positioning portions and second positions in which the above-mentioned one end of the other end shaft portions are not positioned by said positioning portions. The photosensitive member unit includes a plurality of mounting portions which are provided in the frame and to which developing units including developing members capable of supplying toner to the photosensitive drums are mountable, and from which the developing units are dismountable without dismounting the photosensitive drums from the frame, in a state that the above-mentioned one and the other end shaft portions are positioned by the positioning portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinjiro Toba, Masanari Morioka, Hiroshi Takarada
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Patent number: 10551463Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for data acquisition with fat-water separation in a resulting MR image, an MR data acquisition sequence is operated to acquire MR signals from a subject. Said MR signals comprise fat signals originating from fat in the subject and water signals originating from water in the subject, are acquired by executing a frequency-modulated balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) sequence. The MR signals are entered as numerical values into a memory organized as k-space, the memory thereby containing k-space data. An image is reconstructed from the k-data and subjected to regional phase correction. The corrected image being composed of respective pixels having an intensity produced by the fat signals and an intensity produced by the water signals, with the respective pixels being readily distinguishable from each other in the image due to use of the frequency-modulated bSSFP sequence and the block regional correction.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Herbert Köstler, Anne Slawig
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Patent number: 10551455Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods using adiabatic tip-down and matched adiabatic flip-back pulses are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a signal generator configured to generate a pulse sequence for on-resonance magnetization transfer preparation. The pulse sequence includes an adiabatic tip-down pulse and a matched adiabatic flip-back pulse for separating spins in a mobile spin pool from spins in a bound spin pool of an anatomical region of interest for imaging. The system includes radio frequency (RF) coils configured to transmit RF pulses in response to the pulse sequence and to acquire RF data in response to transmission of the RF pulses. Further, the system includes a processing system configured to process the RF data to provide a display image indicating different tissue types with discrimination.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignees: Duke University, Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: David Wendell, Wolfgang Rehwald, Enn-Ling Chen, Raymond Kim
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Patent number: 10551454Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that includes: accessing data indicating a first region for imaging a portion of a subject, the portion being placed in a main magnet of the MRI system and the main magnet generating a magnetic field; selecting, from a group of available shimming coils, a first subset of shimming coils arranged and configured such that, when the shimming coils in the first subset are driven, a homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region is increased; and driving the shimming coils in the selected first subset of shimming coils without driving other shimming coils in the group of available shimming coils such that the homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region increases relative to the homogeneity of the magnetic field at the first region when the shimming coils of the selected first subset are not driven.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Philip J. Beatty, Alexander Gyles Panther, Jeff Alan Stainsby, David Mark Deschenes