Patents Examined by Rishi R Patel
  • Patent number: 11119171
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive, multi-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”), in which an MRI scan prescription is adaptively changed to acquire high-quality data from select regions-of-interest (“ROI”) in a larger field-of-view (“FOV”), are provided. The higher quality data can include data representing higher spatial resolution, higher signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”), increased diffusion encoding via repeated acquisition with a larger number of diffusion-encoding directions, and so on. A composite image can be generated that displays the higher quality images of the ROIs overlaid on the larger FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Cameron A. Piron, Jeff Stainsby, Chad Harris, Philip Beatty
  • Patent number: 11116184
    Abstract: Shown herein is a method of automated noninvasive determining the fertility of a bird's egg (14), comprising the following steps: conveying a plurality of bird eggs (14) sequentially or in parallel into an NMR apparatus (18), subjecting the bird eggs (14) to an NMR measurement, such as to generate a 3-D NMR image of at least a part of each of said eggs (14), said 3-D NMR image having a spatial resolution in at least one dimension of 1.0 mm or less, preferably of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN
    Inventors: Pedro A. Goméz, Miguel Molina-Romero, Axel Haase, Benjamin Schusser, Maximilian Aigner, Maria Laparidou
  • Patent number: 11112478
    Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100) for acquiring MRF magnetic resonance data (144) from a subject (118) within a region of interest (109). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a processor (130) for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system and a memory (134) for storing machine executable instructions (140) and MRF pulse sequence commands (142). The MRF pulse sequence commands are configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the MRF magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Boernert, Thomas Erik Amthor, Mariya Ivanova Doneva, Fabian Wenzel
  • Patent number: 11112373
    Abstract: Provided is a local slice selective T2 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test procedure that includes: (1) identifying a location of a fracture within a core plug; (2) conducting an initial local slice selective T2 NMR test on a slice of the plug that corresponds to the location to generate initial T2 measurements; (3) determining an initial fracture pore volume of the fracture based on the initial T2 measurements; (4) conducting an in-situ local slice selective T2 NMR test on the slice of the plug to generate in-situ T2 measurements and corresponding measures of a volume of fluid expelled from the plug; (5) determining an in-situ fracture pore volume for the fracture based on the in-situ T2 measurements; and (6) comparing the volume of water to a difference between the initial and the in-situ fracture pore volumes to confirm the accuracy of the in-situ pore volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11085984
    Abstract: During operation, a system may apply an external magnetic field and an RF pulse sequence to a sample. Then, the system may measure at least a component of a magnetization associated with the sample, such as MR signals of one or more types of nuclei in the sample. Moreover, the system may calculate at least a predicted component of the magnetization for voxels associated with the sample based on the measured component of the magnetization, a forward model, the external magnetic field and the RF pulse sequence. Next, the system may solve an inverse problem by iteratively modifying the parameters associated with the voxels in the forward model until a difference between the predicted component of the magnetization and the measured component of the magnetization is less than a predefined value. Note that the calculations may be performed concurrently with the measurements and may not involve performing a Fourier transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Q Bio, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Kaditz, Athanasios Polymeridis, Jorge Villena
  • Patent number: 11073464
    Abstract: A method for characterizing wettability of a porous medium is described. A core sample of the porous medium is secured in a core holder, which includes a first end and a second end. A model of the core sample and a pore volume of the core sample are obtained. A wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying a non-wetting phase at one end of the core holder. The non-wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying the wetting phase at one end of the core holder. A saturation profile of the core sample is determined based on cross-sectional images of the core sample. A wettability index value is calculated at least based on a comparison of the saturation profile and the model of the core sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11067518
    Abstract: A whole measurement process includes a plurality of step combinations. Each of the step combinations is composed of a solution-state measurement step and a solid-state measurement step. In the solution-state measurement step, solution-state NMR measurement is performed such that magnetization that is to be used in the solid-state measurement step remains. In the solid-state measurement step, solid-state NMR measurement is performed by using the magnetization that remains. No waiting time for recovering magnetization is provided between the solution-state measurement step and the solid-state measurement step. The solid-state measurement step may be performed earlier, and the solution-state measurement step may be performed later. Alternatively, the two steps may be performed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: RIKEN, JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11061091
    Abstract: A method for the magnetic resonance examination of a measurement object is described, in which a measurement sequence is used in which the magnetic resonance response to the transmitted signal during transmission is measured. It is provided that a correction signal corresponding to the transmitted signal be generated and be used for correction of the response signal. To this end, the correction signal is modulated by a phase value and an amplitude value. The phase value and the amplitude value are automatically and iteratively customized for optimum correction of the response signal by an optimization method using a respective present state value of the measurement signal. Further, a radio-frequency unit (1) is described that can be used to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: Ali Caglar Ozen, Michael Bock
  • Patent number: 11054493
    Abstract: In a method for generating an MR image of an object, k-space of the MR image is separated into blades. In each blade, parallel k-space lines are provided which are separated in a phase encoding direction (PED). Each blade has a different rotation angle around a common center relative to the remaining blades. A spatial extent of the object is determined. For the blades, the extent of the object in the corresponding PED is determined. A blade specific extent of a field of view (FOV) in the PED is determined for each of the blades based on the corresponding extent of the object in the PED. The extent of the FOV in the PED differs for at least one of the blades from the extent of the remaining blades, and sampling the k-space with the blades with the determined blade specific FOV as determined for each of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Zeller, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 11047945
    Abstract: Generation of a preview image using magnetic resonance signals is provided. A method for the generation of a preview image using magnetic resonance signals includes acquiring a first part and a second part of magnetic resonance signals. During the acquisition of the first part of the magnetic resonance signals, a first k-space is regularly sampled, while, during the acquisition of the second part of the magnetic resonance signals, a second k-space is sampled in a pseudorandomized manner. The first part of the magnetic resonance signals is used to generate a preview image. The second part or the second part and a subset of the first part of the magnetic resonance signals are stored for the generation of a second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Mathias Nittka
  • Patent number: 11047936
    Abstract: In some aspects, a resonator device includes a dielectric substrate, a ground plane on a first side of the substrate, and conductors on a second, opposite side of the substrate. The conductors include first and second resonators and two baluns. Each balun includes a feed, a first branch and a second branch. The feed is connected to the first and second branches, and the first and second branches are capacitively coupled to the respective first and second resonators. The first branch includes a delay line configured to produce a phase shift relative to the second branch. The resonator device includes a sample region configured to support a magnetic resonance sample between the first and second resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Quantum Valley Investment Fund LP
    Inventors: Hamidreza Mohebbi, Grum Teklemariam, David Cory
  • Patent number: 11041925
    Abstract: A processor controls an MRI system with pulse sequence commands to acquire magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting protocol during multiple pulse repetitions. The pulse sequence commands control the magnetic resonance imaging system to cause gradient induced spin rephasing at least twice during each of the multiple pulse repetitions, and to acquire at least two magnetic resonance signals during each of the multiple pulse repetitions. Each of the at least two magnetic resonance signals is measured during a separate one of the gradient induced spin rephasing. The magnetic resonance data includes the at least two magnetic resonance signals acquired during each of the multiple pulse repetitions. The processor further at least partially calculates a B0-off-resonance map using the magnetic resonance data, and generates at least one magnetic resonance parametric map by comparing the magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Jakob Meineke, Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Koken, Karsten Sommer
  • Patent number: 11041924
    Abstract: A method for determining a spoiler gradient of a magnetic resonance (MR) system is provided. At least one shim parameter that defines a shim magnetic field for compensating for B0 magnetic field inhomogeneities in a measurement volume of the MR system is received. As a function of the at least one shim parameter, at least one spoiler parameter that defines a spoiler gradient for canceling out a transverse magnetization is determined. The spoiler gradient is applied together with the shim magnetic field in a measurement of the MR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Böttcher
  • Patent number: 11035769
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 11022667
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for generating or using a synthesizing filter in image reconstruction. The method may include: acquiring a calibration data set including a plurality of data points, determining a first calibration region in the calibration data set, the first calibration region including a matrix having a plurality of data points, the plurality of data points includes a first data point at the center of the first calibration region, constructing a first relationship between the first data point and the data points in the first calibration region, and generating a synthesizing filter based on the first relationship. The first data point is at the center of the first calibration region. The method may be implemented on at least one machine each of which has at least one processor and storage. The generated synthesizing filter may be stored in the storage in electronic form as a data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Ding, Renjie He
  • Patent number: 10996155
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10996154
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10976394
    Abstract: A method and apparatus produce angiographic magnetic resonance (MR) images that are based on unsaturated spins flowing into an imaging volume, wherein vessels of the person under examination that do not run parallel to a coordinate axis of the MR apparatus are imaged. The nuclear magnetization in at least a first imaging slice of the person under examination is excited in order to generate MR signals in at least one imaging slice, and MR signals from the at least one first imaging slice are received in order to produce angiographic MR images of the vessels. The at least imaging slice has a curved slice profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Graessner
  • Patent number: 10976274
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring wettability of a rock sample. One method includes: at each temperature of a plurality of temperatures, obtaining a first Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) surface relaxation time for a rock sample having a saturation level; determining a first temperature sensitivity based on the first NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperatures; at each temperature of the plurality of temperatures, obtaining a second NMR surface relaxation time for the rock sample that is saturated with oil; determining a second temperature sensitivity based on the second NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperature; and determining a wettability of the rock sample based on the first temperature sensitivity and the second temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10969513
    Abstract: A method includes generating a temperature-corrected nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement-derived value corresponding to a target temperature using at least one of a dimension-reduction operation or a parameter-correlation operation based on a difference between the target temperature and a sample temperature. The method also includes determining a formation property based on the temperature-corrected NMR measurement-derived value corresponding to the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Shao, Songhua Chen