Patents Examined by Gregory H Curran
  • Patent number: 11782114
    Abstract: A method for reducing artifact generation echo in stimulated-echo-based strain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes determining an inhomogeneity direction, determining an encoding direction, adjusting the encoding direction to correspond with the inhomogeneity direction, and capturing, via an MRI system, a magnetic resonance image of the anatomical object at an imaging location when the encoding direction corresponds with the inhomogeneity direction. The inhomogeneity direction is the direction of a local inhomogeneity of a magnetic field at the imaging location of an anatomical object. The encoding direction is the direction of an encoding gradient of a magnetic field of the MRI system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Xiaoying Cai
  • Patent number: 11782117
    Abstract: To acquire measurement data of an object, a first subsampled set of diffusion-weighted measurement data with switching of diffusion gradients for diffusion encoding of the measurement data, using a first echo spacing, and a second subsampled set of non-diffusion-weighted measurement data, using the first echo spacing, are acquired. The first and second subsampled sets of measurement data are supplemented using calibration data to produce first and second complete sets of measurement data. At least the first calibration data, acquired using the first echo spacing, may be used for supplementing the second subsampled set of measurement data to produce a second complete set of measurement data. By supplementing subsampled sets of measurement data with calibration data acquired according to the same echo spacing as the subsampled measurement data, noise signals in the supplemented measurement data are advantageously eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Zeller, Adam Kettinger
  • Patent number: 11774890
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording material based on image data; a fixing portion that includes a heater having a plurality of heat generating members arranged in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a recording material, and that fixes the image to the recording material using heat of the heater; a storage portion that stores history information on the recording material when image forming operation is performed in which the image forming portion forms the image and the fixing portion fixes the image, a control portion that sets power to be supplied to the heat generating members based on the history information before a type of the recording material on which the image is formed or content of the image data of the image to be formed on the recording material is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Sako, Hirohiko Aiba, Tomoki Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 11774383
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method based on proton NMR technique to differentiate genuine and spurious Hand-rub formulations. This method identifies and estimates all four components present in WHO-recommended Hand-rub formulations. Further, this method also identifies the presence of non-recommended/additional components present in WHO-recommended Hand-rub formulations. The method described in this invention utilizes experimental parameters and derived equations to quantify all four components in just fifteen minutes without using any organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Ravindra Kumar, Sujit Mondal, Christopher Jayaraj, Gurpreet Singh Kapur, Sankara Sri Venkata Ramakumar
  • Patent number: 11768264
    Abstract: A method for multi-dimensional, relaxation-diffusion magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) includes performing, using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a pulse sequence that integrates free-waveform b-tensor diffusion encoding into a magnet resonance fingerprinting pulse sequence to perform a multi-dimensional, relaxation-diffusion encoding while acquiring MRF signal evolutions, processing, using a processor, the acquired MRF signal evolutions to determine at least one relaxation parameter and at least one diffusivity parameter, and generating, using the processor, a report including at least one of the at least one relaxation parameter and the at least diffusivity parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Case Western Reserve University, University College Cardiff Consultants Limited Cardiff
    Inventors: Dan Ma, Mark A. Griswold, Derek Jones, Maryam Afzali, Lars Mueller
  • Patent number: 11762048
    Abstract: In a method, an imaging sequence is irradiated into an examination region in which an examination object is located. The imaging sequence includes an acquisition section. The acquisition section includes acquiring a plurality of echo signals, each of which samples a k-space region of a k-space. The plurality of echo signals comprises a plurality of first echo signals and a plurality of second echo signals. The plurality of first echo signals and the plurality of second echo signals are generated from different magnetization configurations. The k-space regions sampled by the plurality of first echo signals sample the k-space in a different order to the k-space regions sampled by the plurality of second echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Köhler
  • Patent number: 11762049
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical data processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires first data pieces obtained by sparse sampling. The processing circuitry generates first compressed data pieces lower in number than the first data pieces by multiplying the first data pieces by each of sets of weight coefficients and adding each of the multiplied first data pieces. The processing circuitry performs first processing of outputting second compressed data pieces by applying a trained model to the first compressed data pieces, the trained model being trained by receiving first compressed data pieces based on sparse sampling and outputting at least one of second compressed data pieces based on full sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yuuzo Kamiguchi
  • Patent number: 11754546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a crude oil blending process use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensors which investigate properties of a plurality of crude oil streams that are mixed together to form a crude oil blend. An NMR sensor is also used to investigate the properties of the crude oil blend. The investigated properties may include viscosity. Resulting determinations may be used to control the input streams so that the output stream meets desired criteria. Additional sensors such as spectroscopy sensors, viscometers, and densitometers may be used in conjunction with the NMR sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sharath Chandra Mahavadi, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Kamilla Fellah, Simon Ivar Andersen, Yiqiao Tang, Yi-Qiao Song, Shawn David Taylor, Gary Potten
  • Patent number: 11747415
    Abstract: A method of monitoring depletion of a coolant in a cooling system associated with imaging modality is disclosed. The method includes receiving set of signal values from sensing unit, wherein set of signal values correspond to parameters of cooling system, determining class associated with set of signal values using an artificial intelligence model, selecting prediction model capable of predicting depletion rate of the coolant based on class associated with set of signal values, computing depletion rate of coolant in cooling system based on set of signal values using the selected prediction model, determining number of days remaining to refill the coolant in cooling system based on the depletion rate of the coolant in cooling system, and generating warning signal on graphical user interface, warning signal indicative of number of days remaining to refill coolant in cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Anupam Chaitanya, Tushar Mahajan, Manivannan Sundarapandian
  • Patent number: 11740311
    Abstract: A volume rendering image is obtained based on a 3D MRI image by automatically performing appropriate opacity setting. A three-dimensional image of a subject is received, a distribution of pixel values of the three-dimensional image is calculated, a pixel value of a predetermined feature amount is calculated based on the distribution of the pixel values, and opacity is set for each of the pixel value included in the three-dimensional image based on the pixel value of the feature amount. Accordingly, the opacity can be set automatically. The volume rendering image of the three-dimensional image is generated using the opacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Kawata, Kuniaki Harada
  • Patent number: 11740582
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body housing, a drawer, a drum cartridge, and a toner cartridge. The drawer includes a waste toner conveying pipe and a lock member. In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge, the drum cartridge is mounted on the drawer, the drawer is located at a drawn-out position, and the lock member is located at a lock position, the toner cartridge is detachable from the drum cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11733333
    Abstract: In a method for generating an image data set and a reference image data set: a first raw data set is provided that is acquired with a MR system and that includes measurement signals at read-out points in k-space that lie on a first k-space trajectory; a second raw data set is provided that is acquired with the same MR system and at the same examination object at read-out points that lie on a second, different k-space trajectory that is different from the first k-space trajectory; image data sets are reconstructed from the first raw data set; a reference image data set is reconstructed from the second raw data set; the reference image data set is compared with each image dataset to generate respective similarity values; and an image data set is selected having a greatest similarity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Koerzdoerfer, Mathias Nittka
  • Patent number: 11733327
    Abstract: A local coil apparatus for performing a magnetic resonance (MR) scanning on a local part of a subject is provided. The local coil apparatus may include at least one receiving system for receiving the local part. The at least one receiving system may each include an activation member, a receiving member assembly, and a driving mechanism. The receiving member assembly may include one or more receiving members. Each of the one or more receiving members may include a first coil assembly configured to receive MR signals during the MR scanning. The driving mechanism may be physically connected to the one or more receiving members. When the local part is placed on the activation member, the activation member may cause the driving mechanism to drive the receiving member assembly to change from a first configuration to a second configuration to reduce a distance between at least a portion of the first coil assembly and a portion of the local part so that the first coil assembly conforms to the local part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiangming Hou, Zidong Wei, Guangzu Xu
  • Patent number: 11730388
    Abstract: In the field of MRI, a model-based MRI image reconstruction technique is provided. The model-based reconstruction technique increases the performance of Time-of-Flight MRA. In a learning phase, a model is calculated from a sufficiently large set of data acquired at both low and high magnetic fields, using deep learning strategies. In a clinical phase, the model is applied to measured data generating high MR image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Laub, Peter Schmitt, David Grodzki, Waqas Majeed, Wuyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 11719779
    Abstract: An adaptive reconstruction of MR data, including acquired MR data of a core region having core segments and simulated MR data of a peripheral region. The method includes ascertaining a peripheral signal based on the MR data of the peripheral region, determining a scaling factor for each core segment by taking into account the peripheral signal and a mean signal intensity of the MR data for the respective core segment, scaling the MR data of the core region by taking into account the MR data of each core segment and that of the scaling factor corresponding to the respective core segment, generating filtered MR data by combining the scaled MR data of the core region with the MR data of the peripheral region, and reconstructing image data from the filtered MR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Marcel Dominik Nickel, Nadine Dispenza, Simon Bauer
  • Patent number: 11719778
    Abstract: Methods and systems generate synthetic late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance images using a magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) acquisition. From a single acquisition, MRF image data is obtained, including co-registered T1 and T2 tissue property maps. Different tissue regions of interest are identified, such as viable myocardium, scar, and blood and T1 and T2 values for each are determined. Based on these, different sets of pulse sequence parameters are determined, e.g., using different synthetic image contrast models receiving the MRF image data. Synthetic LGE images at different contrasts are generated as a result, including a synthetic bright-blood LGE image, a synthetic dark-blood/gray-blood LGE image, and a synthetic optimized imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER
    Inventors: Jesse Hamilton, Imran Rashid, Nicole Seiberlich, Sanjay Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 11719655
    Abstract: A method for measuring oil-water distribution using DNP-MRI, comprising adding a free radical for DNP enhanced NMR signal of a water phase or an oil phase in a sample containing oil and water; performing an MRI experiment on the sample, and collecting an MRI image of the sample without DNP enhancement; applying microwave excitation for DNP-MRI experiment under the same MRI experiment condition as step 2, and collecting an MRI image of the sample after DNP enhancement; and comparing the MRI image after DNP enhancement with the MRI image without DNP enhancement. In the MRI image with DNP enhancement, an area with enhanced MRI signal intensity is a selectively enhanced fluid phase distribution area, and an area without obviously changed MRI signal intensity is a non-selectively enhanced fluid phase distribution area. The method is simple, convenient to operate, short in measurement time, and high in measurement efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Innovation Academy For Precision Measurement Science And Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Li Chen, Junfei Chen, Chaoyang Liu, Zhen Zhang, Tao Feng, Jiwen Feng, Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 11719776
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for provision of a result dataset having position information of a local radio-frequency coil, including: providing input data having at least magnetic resonance data, which is acquired by means of the local radio-frequency coil; determining a result dataset by applying a trained function to the input data, wherein the result dataset comprises position information for determining the position of the local radio-frequency coil; and providing the result dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Köhler, Johann Sukkau, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 11714151
    Abstract: Techniques of prospectively compensating for motion of a subject being imaged by an MRI system, the MRI system comprising a plurality of magnetics components including at least one gradient coil and at least one radio-frequency (RF) coil, the techniques comprising: obtaining first spatial frequency data and second spatial frequency data by operating the MRI system in accordance with a pulse sequence, wherein the pulse sequence is associated with a sampling path that includes at least two non-contiguous portions each for sampling a central region of k-space; determining a transformation using a first image obtained using the first spatial frequency data and a second image obtained using the second spatial frequency data; correcting the pulse sequence using the determined transformation to obtain a corrected pulse sequence; and obtaining additional spatial frequency data in accordance with the corrected pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Carole Lazarus, Rafael O'Halloran, Hadrien A. Dyvorne
  • Patent number: 11714026
    Abstract: A vibration detection apparatus applied to a nuclear magnetic resonance while drilling instrument, including a vibration table. The vibration table is configured to horizontally clamp the nuclear magnetic resonance while drilling instrument and further includes a graduated barrel that contains a detection liquid; the graduated barrel is configured to be suspended at the upper side of the vibration table and be spaced apart from the nuclear magnetic resonance while drilling instrument; when the vibration table performs vibration, the graduated barrel keeps stationary, and the nuclear magnetic resonance while drilling instrument preforms high-pressure emission and measurement by means of the graduated barrel. Therefore, the nuclear magnetic resonance while drilling instrument can obtain the echo signal of the graduated barrel during vibration, thereby more accurately detecting the performance thereof and shortening a detection time length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: CHNA OILFIELD SERVICES LIMITED, CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE OIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jiawei Zhang, Fang Sai, Zhibo Xue, Guangwei Wang, Yu Cheng, Xiangxin Chen, Jingzhi Chen