Patents by Inventor Andrew L. Alexander

Andrew L. Alexander has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10132898
    Abstract: Described here are a system and method for obtaining multiple different images when performing a single scan of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system. The scan includes the application of two or more magnetization preparation radio frequency (“RF”) pulses, such as inversion recovery (“IR”) pulses. Data is acquired after the application of each magnetization preparation RF pulse, thus allowing the acquisition of multiple different images of the subject in a single scan. Using this approach, the same information that used to require multiple different scans of the subject can be acquired in one single scan, and in less time than would be required to perform the multiple scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Steven Ryan Kecskemeti, Andrew L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9366740
    Abstract: Described here are a system and method for obtaining a time series of images that depict a subject using an inversion recovery (“IR”) pulse sequence with a unique data acquisition scheme that allows for the retrospective identification of an image having an optimal tissue contrast. Data acquisition is performed using a radial acquisition scheme such as, preferably, a vastly undersampled isotropic projection reconstruction (“VIPR”) scheme. Using VIPR and IR, combined with a unique projection ordering, a series of three-dimensional, high spatial resolution images with multiple different image contrasts can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Steven Ryan Kecskemeti, Andrew L. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20140347051
    Abstract: Described here are a system and method for obtaining multiple different images when performing a single scan of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system. The scan includes the application of two or more magnetization preparation radio frequency (“RF”) pulses, such as inversion recovery (“IR”) pulses. Data is acquired after the application of each magnetization preparation RF pulse, thus allowing the acquisition of multiple different images of the subject in a single scan. Using this approach, the same information that used to require multiple different scans of the subject can be acquired in one single scan, and in less time than would be required to perform the multiple scans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Steven Ryan Kecskemeti, Andrew L. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20140266193
    Abstract: Described here are a system and method for obtaining a time series of images that depict a subject using an inversion recovery (“IR”) pulse sequence with a unique data acquisition scheme that allows for the retrospective identification of an image having an optimal tissue contrast. Data acquisition is performed using a radial acquisition scheme such as, preferably, a vastly undersampled isotropic projection reconstruction (“VIPR”) scheme. Using VIPR and IR, combined with a unique projection ordering, a series of three-dimensional, high spatial resolution images with multiple different image contrasts can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Steven Ryan Kecskemeti, Andrew L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7358730
    Abstract: Highly undersampled diffusion weighted image data sets are acquired for a plurality of different directions using a projection reconstruction pulse sequence. The acquired projection views are interleaved and are combined to form a more highly sampled data set that is used to reconstruct a composite image. A DWI image is reconstructed from each undersampled data set for each direction using a highly constrained backprojected method that employs the composite image. Diffusion tensor values are calculated from the DWI images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Charles A. Mistretta, Andrew L. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7120290
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating enhanced images of multiple dimensional data using a depth-buffer segmentation process. The method and system operate in a computer system modify the image by generating a reduced-dimensionality image data set from a multidimensional image by formulating a set of projection paths through image points selected from the multidimensional image, selecting an image point along each projection path, analyzing each image point to determine spatial similarities with at least one other point adjacent to the selected image point in a given dimension, and grouping the image point with the adjacent point or spatial similarities between the points is found thereby defining the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dennis L. Parker, Andrew L. Alexander, John A. Roberts, Brian E. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20040086175
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating enhanced images of multiple dimensional data using a depth-buffer segmentation process. The method and system operate in a computer system modify the image by generating a reduced-dimensionality image data set from a multidimensional image by formulating a set of projection paths through image points selected from the multidimensional image, selecting an image point along each projection path, analyzing each image point to determine spatial similarities with at least one other point adjacent to the selected image point in a given dimension, and grouping the image point with the adjacent point or spatial similarities between the points is found thereby defining the data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Dennis L. Parker, Andrew L. Alexander, John A. Roberts, Brian E. Chapman
  • Patent number: 6674894
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating enhanced images of multiple dimensional data using a depth-buffer segmentation process. The method and system operate in a computer system modify the image by generating a reduced-dimensionality image data set from a multidimensional image by formulating a set of projection paths through image points selected from the multidimensional image, selecting an image point along each projection path, analyzing each image point to determine spatial similarities with at least one other point adjacent to the selected image point in a given dimension, and grouping the image point with the adjacent point or spatial similarities between the points is found thereby defining the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dennis L. Parker, Andrew L. Alexander, John A. Roberts, Brian E. Chapman
  • Patent number: RE43225
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating enhanced images of multiple dimensional data using a depth-buffer segmentation process. The method and system operate in a computer system modify the image by generating a reduced-dimensionality image data set from a multidimensional image by formulating a set of projection paths through image points selected from the multidimensional image, selecting an image point along each projection path, analyzing each image point to determine spatial similarities with at least one other point adjacent to the selected image point in a given dimension, and grouping the image point with the adjacent point or spatial similarities between the points is found thereby defining the data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dennis L. Parker, Andrew L. Alexander, John A. Roberts, Brian E. Chapman