Patents Examined by Susan Lee
  • Patent number: 9588208
    Abstract: A method for accelerated segmented magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes using a plurality of RF pulses to excite one or more slices of an anatomical area of interest according to a predetermined slice acceleration factor. Next, a collapsed image comprising the slices is acquired using a consecutive segment acquisition process. Then, a parallel image reconstruction method is applied to the collapsed image to separate the collapsed image into a plurality of slice images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS), U.S. Government NIH Division of Extramural Inventions and Technology Resources (DEITR), Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jonathan Rizzo Polimeni, Himanshu Bhat, Keith Aaron Heberlein, Kawin Setsompop, Thomas Witzel, Stephen Farman Cauley
  • Patent number: 9568579
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting using echo splitting are described. One example apparatus includes an NMR logic configured to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include the number of echo splitting pulses, spacings between echo splitting pulses, flip angle of echo splitting pulses, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic configured to produce an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic configured to characterize a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Case Western Reserve University, SIEMENS AG
    Inventors: Renate Jerecic, Mark Griswold, Yun Jiang, Dan Ma
  • Patent number: 9563147
    Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device are provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which carries developer on a circumferential surface thereof, a layer thickness regulating member which includes, a blade contacting the circumferential surface of the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member supporting the blade, the layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developer carrier. The support member includes: a contact part which contacts the blade; and a pair of attachment parts which are attached to the housing. The attachment parts are provide at both sides of the contact part in the rotational axial direction and are further protruded than the contact part in a direction away from the developer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9557660
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a charge transport layer forming coating liquid containing a charge transport material, at least one selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate resins and polyester resins, at least one of xylene and toluene, and cyclopentanone. The proportion of cyclopentanone in the charge transport layer forming coating liquid is in the range of 50% by mass to 85% by mass relative to the total mass of at least one of xylene and toluene and cyclopentanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takahashi, Naoaki Ichihashi, Kan Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9547052
    Abstract: There is disclosed an NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spinner having a turbine structure and a rotor whose spinning rate can be increased. A vortical channel (44) is formed around the rotor (12). The vortical channel (44) consists of a chamber (66) and a nozzle array (68) mounted inside the chamber (66). The chamber (66) has a cross-sectional area that decreases in an upstream to downstream direction. The cross-sectional area of each nozzle also decreases in an upstream to downstream direction. Gas is introduced into the chamber (66), creating a rotating flow (76, 78, 80) in the chamber (66). Plural inwardly swirling streams are created from the inside of the rotating flow. The inwardly swirling streams are ejected from the exits of the nozzles. This results in jet streams, which are blown against the impeller of the rotor, spinning the rotor at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Endo
  • Patent number: 9547055
    Abstract: A device for identifying a position of a local coil of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner relative to a position of a patient couch includes at least one label configured to transmit a signal with at least one identity number wirelessly, and at least one reading unit with a reading-unit antenna. The at least one reading unit is configured to receive the signal. The device also includes a position determination apparatus configured to determine the position of the local coil relative to the patient couch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Gerhard Metz
  • Patent number: 9547063
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, MRI method and a computer readable medium are configured to determine a specific absorption rate (SAR) for the patient based on at least (a) NMR signal strength at a phantom when the at least one RF coil is loaded with the patient for an MRI scan, and (b) NMR signal strength at the phantom when the at least one RF coil is not loaded with the patient for an MRI scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 9529318
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening, an openable member, and a movable member for supporting cartridges in a state in which the cartridges are arranged in an arranging direction, movable in the arranging direction while passing through the opening between an inside position and an outside position in a direction crossing the arranging direction and a longitudinal direction. When the movable member is positioned at the inside position, adjacent two cartridges of the cartridges are in an overlapping state as seen in a direction perpendicular to the arranging direction and the longitudinal direction. When the movable member is moved from the inside position to the outside position and then one of the adjacent two cartridges is dismounted from the movable member, the one of the adjacent two cartridges is moved relative to the movable member so as to be prevented from interfering with the other cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Sato, Isao Matsuoka, Osamu Sasaoka, Tetsuo Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9529065
    Abstract: Interleaved black/bright imaging (IBBI) is performed using a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner wherein the black blood module of the IBBI includes: applying a first flow sensitization gradient; applying a spoiler gradient after applying the first flow sensitization gradient; applying a second flow sensitization gradient after applying the spoiler gradient wherein the second flow sensitization gradient has area equal to the first flow sensitization gradient but of opposite polarity; applying a slice selective radio frequency excitation pulse after applying the spoiler gradient; and performing a MR readout after applying the second flow sensitization gradient and after applying the slice selective radio frequency excitation wherein the readout acquires MR imaging data having blood signal suppression in the region excited by the slice selective radio frequency excitation pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., University of Washington
    Inventors: Jinnan Wang, Huijun Chen, Peter Börnert, Chun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9526918
    Abstract: A combined MRI and radiation therapy system has MRI imaging equipment and radiation therapy equipment. The MRI imaging equipment includes a shielded solenoidal magnet including a number of main magnet coils arranged coaxially along an axis, and a shielding arrangement arranged coaxially with the axis, at a greater radius from the axis than the main magnet coils. The radiation therapy equipment includes a LINAC assembly, that includes a linear electron accelerator arranged with an electron beam path parallel to the axis, and electron beam deflection arrangement and a target for generating a beam of therapeutic radiation. The linear electron accelerator is located at a position radially between the main magnet coils and the shielding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventor: Marcel Kruip
  • Patent number: 9523753
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) spins are inverted by applying an inversion recovery (IR) radio frequency pulse (50). MR signals are acquired at an inversion time (TI) after the IR radio frequency pulse. TI is selected such that a first tissue of interest (e.g., blood) exhibits negative magnetism excited by the IR radio frequency pulse and a second tissue (e.g., intraplaque hemorrhage tissue) exhibits positive magnetism excited by the IR radio frequency pulse. The acquired magnetic resonance signals are reconstructed to generate spatial pixels or voxels wherein positive pixel or voxel values indicate spatial locations of positive magnetism and negative pixel or voxel values indicates spatial locations of negative magnetism. A first image (28) representative of the first tissue is generated from spatial pixels or voxels having negative signal intensities, and a second image (26) representative of the second tissue is generated from spatial pixels or voxels having positive signal intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Jinnan Wang, Michael Günter Helle, William Sean Kerwin, Peter Boernert, Chun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9513148
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a multiphase medium which is flowing through a measuring tube with a nuclear magnetic measurement device, the nuclear magnetic measurement device being located around the measuring tube. The accuracy of the measurement of the flow rate for the gaseous phase is achieved in that, in addition to the nuclear magnetic measurement device, there is a further measurement device which implements another measurement principle, e.g. a differential pressure flow rate measurement device for measuring the differential pressure of the medium in the measuring tube. At least one pressure gauge at each of two measurement sites which are different in the longitudinal direction of the measuring tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Krohne AG
    Inventor: Cornelius Johannes Hogendoorn
  • Patent number: 9513356
    Abstract: In order to improve contrast and image quality in non-orthogonal measurement without sacrificing speed, in imaging which combines a fast imaging sequence for acquiring a plurality of echo signals in one shot with non-orthogonal system measurement, the shape of a blade in which an echo train of each shot is arranged includes a fan-shaped region having the radius and the arc of a circle centered on the origin of the k space, and a region overlapping an adjacent blade. During measurement, control is performed such that an echo signal for desired TE of each blade is arranged in a low spatial frequency region of a k space, and during image reconstruction, body motion between the blades is corrected using data of the overlapping regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kamada, Masahiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9513587
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit that detects information about a used amount of a unit, and a control unit that outputs information indicating that the unit is required to be replaced when the information about the detected used amount reaches a first predetermined threshold value, wherein the control unit changes the threshold value to a second threshold value according to information about the used amount when the unit is replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Uchida, Satoru Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Yamazaki, Toshifumi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9513572
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to a control for a non-contact charging roller. For example, a charging assembly may control a selectable non-contact distance between a charge roller and an imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Omer Gila, Seongsik Chang, Michael H Lee, Thomas Anthony, William D Holland
  • Patent number: 9507310
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium, including: a process unit, which a high voltage is applied to, configured to perform an image forming process; a circuit board configured to generate the high voltage; a holding claw configured to hold the circuit board; a power feed member configured to apply the high voltage to the process unit, the power feed member having an elastic member electrically connected to an output portion of the circuit board from which the high voltage is output in a state in which the circuit board is held by the holding claw; and a silk-printed mark put on the circuit board, the silk-printed mark indicating a portion of the circuit board to be pressed by an operator in order to cause the circuit board to be held by the holding claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirohisa Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9494889
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an irradiation unit for irradiating an image carrier having a formed detection image with light, the irradiation unit being capable of switching a size of a light-emitting region; a light-receiving unit for receiving reflected light of the light irradiated by the irradiation unit and outputting a detection signal corresponding to a light-receiving amount of the reflected light including a specular-reflected light component; a detection unit for detecting one of position information and density information of the detection image based on the detection signal; and a control unit for controlling to switch the size of the light-emitting region to detect one of the position information and the density information of the detection image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Takuya Mukaibara
  • Patent number: 9494670
    Abstract: A method of MRI for reduction of motion artifacts in 3D MR data acquisition with multiple segments comprises: the complete acquisition being divided into two parts: basic acquisition and complementary acquisition. Basic acquisition is performed at the beginning. Complementary acquisition is performed after the basic acquisition is finished. View Reordering is prepared for basic acquisition and complementary acquisition separately. Motion monitoring is performed regularly during the data acquisition. Whenever motion is detected, data acquisition stops. Image reconstruction is performed when motion occurs in the phase of complementary acquisition. The final reconstructed image is free of motion artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM FREIBURG
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Juergen Hennig, Maxim Zaitsev
  • Patent number: 9488957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus into the casing, and the exposure unit is disposed on the one side in the second direction of the includes a an image forming unit, the image forming unit including a toner accommodation portion. The image forming apparatus further includes a detachable sheet feed cassette that is disposed at a lower part of the casing, a pickup roller, a sheet conveying path, and a sheet discharge path. The pickup roller and the toner accommodation portion are positioned at heights that at least partially overlap one another (e.g., when viewed in a horizontal direction). In some arrangements, the sheet conveying path passes between the toner accommodation portion and the sheet feed cassette. Moreover, the image forming apparatus may include a scanner unit, wherein the toner accommodation portion and the scanner unit are arranged at positions where at least a part of the toner accommodation portion overlaps the scanner unit when viewed in horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Keisuke Takahashi, Kazutoshi Kotama, Hikaru Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 9488712
    Abstract: In a method and MR scanning apparatus for compensating for gradient delay in the MR scanning sequence, a current gradient amplitude of the MR scanning sequence is determined. Based on the current gradient amplitude and a mapping between gradient delay and gradient amplitude, a current gradient delay corresponding to the current gradient amplitude is determined. The gradient delay in the MR scanning sequence is compensated according to the current gradient delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Chao Ming He