Patents Examined by Frederick Wenderoth
  • Patent number: 11504022
    Abstract: A trolley system configured to transport a patient within an MRI environment includes a patient support portion, a base portion configured for movement relative to a floor, a lift coupled to the patient support portion and the base portion, an electric motor coupled to the lift, and an electric blower coupled to the patient transfer device. The lift is configured to change the elevation of the patient support portion relative to the base portion. The motor is mounted such that the elevation of the motor is fixed relative to base portion. The trolley system is positionable adjacent an MRI apparatus within the MRI environment and the magnetic field of the MRI does not interfere with the operation of the motor or blower. The trolley system may further include a patient transfer device having an air bearing. The blower is configured to deliver air to the air bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Qfix Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Coppens, James Manning, Franklin Ports, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11486948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of calculating a proton density fat fraction, PDFF, from a water and fat separated magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, based on fat-referenced lipid quantification in a region of interest (ROI) and using determination of a reference tissue. The method comprises the step of determining: F·?f/R, wherein F is the fat signal in the ROI provided from the MRI, ?f is a function providing a ratio between T1 saturation values of the fat signals in the reference tissue and in the ROI; and R is a representation of the sum of fat and water signals on an intensity scale where the saturation of each of the fat and water signals equals the saturation of fat in the reference tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: AMRA MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Olof Dahlqvist Leinhard
  • Patent number: 11488766
    Abstract: A gradient coil having a coil body made from a cured casting compound and at least one cooler embedded in the casting compound, serving to conduct a fluid coolant, wherein the cooler and the casting compound do not adhere to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 11486951
    Abstract: In MRI, upon simultaneously generating computed images of multiple parameters, imaging time is efficiently reduced while preventing decrease in spatial resolution and SN ratio as much as possible. A plurality of original images is reconstructed from nuclear magnetic resonance signals acquired under various imaging conditions, and a computed image is obtained by calculation performed among the plurality of original images. The various imaging conditions include an imaging condition that a repetition time of an imaging sequence is different from one another, and upon imaging, the number of phase encoding steps is made smaller when the repetition time is long. An image is reconstructed in such a manner that a matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is small is made equal to the matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yo Taniguchi, Hisaaki Ochi, Tomoki Amemiya, Toru Shirai
  • Patent number: 11474183
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method of correcting motion in precorrection MR images of a subject is provided. The method includes applying, by an MR system, a pulse sequence having a k-space trajectory of a blade being rotated in k-space. The method also includes acquiring k-space data of a three-dimensional (3D) imaging volume of the subject, the k-space data of the 3D imaging volume corresponding to the precorrection MR images and acquired by the pulse sequence. The method further includes receiving a 3D MR calibration data of a 3D calibration volume, wherein the 3D calibration volume is greater than or equal to the 3D imaging volume, jointly estimating rotation and translation in the precorrection MR images based on the k-space data of the 3D imaging volume and the calibration data, correcting motion in the precorrection images based on the estimated rotation and the estimated translation, and outputting the motion-corrected images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Shaorong Chang, Xucheng Zhu, Ali Ersoz, Ajeetkumar Gaddipati, Moran Wei
  • Patent number: 11474181
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a magnetic resonance imaging method based on a blade sequence. The method can include acquiring 3-D data collected by a surface coil, determining a corresponding plurality of kernel data of each blade from the 3-D data according to the position information of each blade, collecting a corresponding plurality of slices of aliasing K-space data of each blade, performing convolution operations for the corresponding plurality of slices of aliasing K-space data of each blade and the corresponding plurality of kernel data of each blade to obtain a corresponding plurality of unaliasing K-space data of each blade, and reconstructing images for the corresponding plurality of unaliasing K-space data of different blades to obtain a plurality of unaliasing images. The present disclosure further describes a magnetic resonance imaging device for realizing the method and a computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Kun Zhou, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 11474179
    Abstract: In a method for MRI of an object, spins of a first material and spins of a second material are excited. An in-phase echo signal is acquired when the spins are in-phase and an out-of-phase echo signal is acquired, when the spins are out of phase. A first image for the first material and/or a second image for the second material is generated by a computing unit depending on the in-phase echo signal and the out-of-phase echo signal. For acquiring the out-of-phase echo signal, a momentum space is sampled asymmetrically in a read-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Nadine Dispenza, Dominik Paul, Manuel Stich, Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 11471098
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the effects of therapeutics on the brain. Brains of first and second sets of patients are imaged and a gene expression is measured at a first time to provide a first set of images and a first set of gene expression transcripts. A therapeutic is administered to the first set of patients after the first time. The brains of the patients are imaged and the gene expression of the patients is measured at a second time, after the therapeutic is administered, to provide a second set of images and a second set of gene expression transcripts. A change in the brain is determined for the patients from the sets of images. A set of changes in the gene expression that are correlated with the changes in the brain are determined from the change in the brain and the sets of gene expression transcripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Amit Anand
  • Patent number: 11467240
    Abstract: A method for accelerating diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition via slice interleaved diffusion encoding (SIDE) includes conducting a plurality of simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitations for each of a plurality of SIDE diffusion-weighted volumes to obtain SMS images of an MRI subject at different diffusion orientations, regrouping the images into slice groups with different orientations, generating a plurality of slice-undersampled diffusion weighted volumetric images of the subject, wherein each of the plurality of slice-undersampled diffusion weighted volumetric images is produced by cyclically interleaving the slice groups, such that each slice group is associated with a different diffusion wavevector, and reconstructing a full diffusion-weighted volumetric image of the subject by providing the plurality of slice-undersampled diffusion weighted volumetric images to a neural network trained to produce full diffusion-weighted volumetric versions of diffusion magnetic resonance images from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Pew-Thian Yap, Yoonmi Hong, Wei-Tang Chang
  • Patent number: 11460529
    Abstract: A method and a system automatically perform an image reconstruction of a biological object. The method includes acquiring at different time points t_i signal data for imaging the biological object and clustering a set of data in connection with the acquired signal data. The clustering includes constructing a matrix C, wherein an element Ci,j of the matrix C is the value n_j of one of the data of the dataset acquired at the time point t_i, and then performing a similarity clustering based on the matrix C. At least one of the clusters is selected and determining for each of the time points t_i that are part of the cluster all acquired signal data that have been acquired within a predefined temporal threshold with respect to the considered time point t_i. The image reconstruction of the biological object is performed with the previously determined acquired signal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
    Inventors: Davide Piccini, John Heerfordt, Christopher Roy, Matthias Stuber
  • Patent number: 11442126
    Abstract: A relative substance composition (RSC) of a portion of a body of a patient in a field of view for a medical image to be taken from the patient in a medical imaging scan is estimated. An input interface receives a piece of patient information data (PPID) and receives a piece of field-of-view information data (PFID). A computing device is configured to implement a trained machine learning algorithm (MLA). The trained MLA is configured and trained to receive the PPID and the PFID received by the input interface as an input and to generate as an output an output signal indicating an RSC of a portion of the body of the patient for the medical image based on the PPID and the PFID. An output interface outputs at least the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Sukkau
  • Patent number: 11428767
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for providing an actuation sequence which specifies transmit signals for at least one high-frequency transmit channel of an antenna arrangement of a magnetic resonance device for acquiring measurement data of an object under investigation by the magnetic resonance device. The method includes providing different actuation sequences, wherein each sequence is the result of an optimization method and which differs with regard to the value of an optimization parameter taken into account in the course of the optimization method. The method further includes providing a plurality of field distribution maps, (e.g., at least one B0 map and/or at least one B1 map), acquired by the or a further magnetic resonance device from the object under investigation. The method further includes selecting the actuation sequence to be used from the different actuation sequences depending on the field distribution maps and providing the actuation sequence to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Gumbrecht, Jürgen Herrler, Patrick Liebig, Armin Nagel
  • Patent number: 11428760
    Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for imaging a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system using magnetic field gradients generated by one or more gradient coils operating with gradient coil settings (e.g., gradient amplitudes, gradient slew rates) above a threshold at which peripheral nerve stimulation (“PNS”) is likely to be induced in the subject. A dielectric assembly is positioned adjacent a skin surface of the subject such that the dielectric assembly attenuates the local electric fields induced by the magnetic field gradients, which would be likely to induce PNS when the dielectric assembly is not arranged adjacent the skin surface of the subject. As a result of the dielectric assembly placed adjacent the skin surface of the subject, the gradient coil settings can be increased above the threshold without inducing PNS in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Chad Harris, Geron Bindseil, William Handler
  • Patent number: 11415654
    Abstract: A method of analysing the magnitude of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data is described. The method comprising: using the magnitude only of the multi-echo MRI data of images from the subject, where images are acquired at arbitrarily timed echoes including at least one echo time where water and fat are not substantially in-phase; fitting the magnitude of said multi-echo MRI data to a single signal model to produce a plurality of potential solutions for the relative signal contributions for each of the at least two species from the model, by using a plurality of different starting conditions to generate a particular cost function value for each of the plurality of starting conditions, where said cost function values are independent of a field map term for the MRI data; analysing said cost function values to calculate relative signal separation contribution for each species at each voxel of the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Perspectum Limited
    Inventors: Alexandre Bagur, Chloe Hutton, Benjamin J Irving, Michael L Gyngell, Matthew Robson, Michael J Brady
  • Patent number: 11408952
    Abstract: The present disclosure directs to a system and method for configuring a pulse sequence in MRI. The method may include obtaining a preliminary gradient pulse configuration, wherein the preliminary gradient pulse configuration relates to a portion of a pulse sequence to be implemented by one or more coils of an MR scanner, the pulse sequence including a plurality of gradient pulses. The method may also include determining a global peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) value of the preliminary gradient pulse configuration according to a PNS model. The method may further include determining a target gradient pulse configuration based at least in part on the preliminary gradient pulse configuration, the global PNS value, and a PNS threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaomao Gong
  • Patent number: 11402454
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques for reducing eddy current-induced magnetic field interferences for a diffusion imaging pulse sequence. A gradient impulse response function (GIRF) is determined, and an interference gradient sequence (Gx/y/z(t)) is defined on the basis of the diffusion imaging pulse sequence. A time interval (t1, t2) is determined for the acquisition of diffusion image data. On the basis of the determined gradient impulse response function (GIRF) and the interference gradient sequence (Gx/y/z(t)), a time-dependent magnetic field deviation (?Bx/y/z(t)) in the determined time interval (t1, t2) is determined. An image distortion of an acquisition of diffusion imaging is compensated, which takes place by application of the diffusion imaging pulse sequence on the basis of the determined magnetic field deviation (?Bx/y/z(t)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Adam Kettinger, Josef Pfeuffer, Manuel Stich, Thorsten Feiweier, Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 11397234
    Abstract: In a method for generating at least one MR image of an object in an MR system comprising a plurality of signal receiving coils, a sequence of RF pulses are applied in order to generate a plurality of MR signal echoes, the MR signal-echoes are detected with the plurality of signal receiving coils in a 3-dimension-al k-space, and the at least one MR image is reconstructed using the non-homogeneous under sampled 3-dimensional k-space based on a compressed sensing technology. The 3-dimensional k-space may be undersampled with a plurality of constant radii corkscrew trajectories having different radii resulting in a non-homogeneous undersampled 3-dimensional k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Nadine Dispenza, Dominik Paul, Manuel Stich, Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 11391801
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques to acquire at least one quantitative physiological parameter using a magnetic resonance system by means of MR fingerprinting. In this process, a plurality of slices are excited simultaneously using different imaging parameters to produce MR signal evolutions in each of the plurality of slices, and the MR data from the plurality of slices is then acquired simultaneously. For the simultaneous excitation of the plurality of slices, a flip angle (FW) that is used to excite one of the plurality of slices differs from a flip angle (FW) that is used to excite another of the plurality of slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Grodzki David
  • Patent number: 11391802
    Abstract: A method for MRI reconstruction is provided. The method may include obtaining a plurality of sub-sampled images of a subject. The plurality of sub-sampled images may include a first sub-sampled image of the subject and one or more second sub-sampled images of the subject. The first sub-sampled image may be generated using a first MRI sequence and a first sub-sampling rate. Each of the one or more second sub-sampled images may be generated using a second MRI sequence and a second sub-sampling rate. The second sub-sampling rate may be smaller than the first sub-sampling rate. The method may include obtaining an image reconstruction model having been trained according to a machine learning technique. The method may further include generating a first full image of the subject corresponding to the first MRI sequence based on the first sub-sampled image, the one or more second sub-sampled images, and the image reconstruction model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING INTELLIGENCE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuyang Lyu, Shu Liao
  • Patent number: 11375918
    Abstract: Methods of characterizing the brain of a subject, comprising: (a) performing a multispectral multislice magnetic resonance scan on the brain of a subject, (b) storing image data indicative of a plurality of magnetic resonance weightings of each of a plurality of slices of the brain of the subject to provide directly acquired images, (c) processing the directly acquired images to generate a plurality of quantitative maps of the brain indicative of a plurality of qMRI parameters of the subject, (d) constructing a plurality of magnetic resonance images indicative of white matter structure from the quantitative maps, and (e) generating a spatial entropy map of the brain of the subject from the plurality of magnetic resonance images; and/or generating a myelin water map of the brain of the subject from the plurality of magnetic resonance images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: Boston Medical Center Corporation, Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Hernan Jara, Ryan McNaughton