Patents by Inventor Benno Heigl
Benno Heigl 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).
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Patent number: 9754390Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data reconstruction. In accordance with one aspect, data interpolation is performed on a time-varying three-dimensional (3D) image dataset of one or more vessel-like structures to generate at least one interpolated voxel value. The interpolated voxel value is used to correct at least one value of a vessel voxel representing the one or more vessel-like structures in the time-varying 3D dataset.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Benno Heigl, Markus Kowarschik, Christopher Rohkohl, Kevin Royalty, Sebastian Schafer, Jurgen Endres
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Patent number: 9549710Abstract: Methods for updating a 2D/3D registration between a three-dimensional image data set corresponding to a target area subjected to a movement and a plurality of two-dimensional projection images of the target area include: selecting a plurality of contour points along a contour, the contour being visible in a first projection image and a three-dimensional image data set registered therewith, the plurality of contour points being associated with a rigid object in the target area; determining a displacement of each contour point of the plurality of contour points between the first projection image and a successively captured second projection image; obtaining movement information for each contour point of the plurality of contour points based on the determined displacement, the movement information describing a movement of the rigid object; and updating the registration based on the obtained movement information.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Anja Borsdorf, Benno Heigl, Jian Wang
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Publication number: 20160350948Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data reconstruction. In accordance with one aspect, data interpolation is performed on a time-varying three-dimensional (3D) image dataset of one or more vessel-like structures to generate at least one interpolated voxel value. The interpolated voxel value is used to correct at least one value of a vessel voxel representing the one or more vessel-like structures in the time-varying 3D dataset.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Benno Heigl, Markus Kowarschik, Christopher Rohkohl, Kevin Royalty, Sebastian Schafer, Jurgen Endres
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Patent number: 9443330Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data reconstruction. In accordance with one aspect, data interpolation is performed on a time-varying three-dimensional (3D) image dataset of one or more vessel-like structures to generate at least one interpolated voxel value. The interpolated voxel value is used to correct at least one value of a vessel voxel representing the one or more vessel-like structures in the time-varying 3D dataset.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Markus Kowarschik, Christopher Rohkohl, Kevin Royalty, Sebastian Schafer, Jurgen Endres
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Publication number: 20150030229Abstract: Methods for updating a 2D/3D registration between a three-dimensional image data set corresponding to a target area subjected to a movement and a plurality of two-dimensional projection images of the target area include: selecting a plurality of contour points along a contour, the contour being visible in a first projection image and a three-dimensional image data set registered therewith, the plurality of contour points being associated with a rigid object in the target area; determining a displacement of each contour point of the plurality of contour points between the first projection image and a successively captured second projection image; obtaining movement information for each contour point of the plurality of contour points based on the determined displacement, the movement information describing a movement of the rigid object; and updating the registration based on the obtained movement information.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Anja Borsdorf, Benno Heigl, Jian Wang
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Publication number: 20140376791Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data reconstruction. In accordance with one aspect, data interpolation is performed on a time-varying three-dimensional (3D) image dataset of one or more vessel-like structures to generate at least one interpolated voxel value. The interpolated voxel value is used to correct at least one value of a vessel voxel representing the one or more vessel-like structures in the time-varying 3D dataset.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Benno Heigl, Markus Kowarschik, Christopher Rohkohl, Kevin Royalty, Sebastian Schafer, Jurgen Endres
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Patent number: 8295911Abstract: A method and apparatus for motion correction of medical image data of a patient are provided. Medical image data is obtained in a tomographic image recording process by back-projection from a number of projection images. The position of a magnetic location sensor, which is arranged on a medical implant inserted into a patient is also determined as a function of time while the projection images are being recorded, by means of an electromagnetic location system and the position is taken into account in the back-projection of the projection images for motion correction purposes.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Benno Heigl
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Patent number: 8244064Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the registration and superimposition of image data when taking serial radiographs in medical imaging, wherein a plurality of image data sets for a region of a patient (17) that is being investigated are constructed at time intervals using an imaging system (1) and are referenced with a first image data set for the region that is being investigated that was constructed previously using said imaging system (1). In the above method, a location system (2) is used during the production of serial radiographs constantly, or at least at a respective proximity in time to the construction of individual data sets, to determine a current spatial position of the region being investigated in a reference system that is firmly connected to the imaging system (1), whereby in the construction of the first image data set, a first spatial position of the region that is being investigated is recorded.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Jan Boese, Benno Heigl, Norbert Rahn
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Patent number: 8220994Abstract: For detecting the relative location of a laser or laser fan beam relative to the x-ray geometry of an x-ray device, a method for calibrating the position of the laser fan beam generated by a laser in relation to the projection geometry of the x-ray device is proposed. The x-ray device comprises an x-ray imaging system featuring an x-ray source and an x-ray detector. The x-ray source, the x-ray detector, the laser, and an imaging facility are arranged on a support. An optical x-ray calibration phantom is used for the calibration. The position of the imaging facility relative to the projection geometry is determined. The position of the laser fan beam relative to the imaging facility is determined. The position of the laser fan beam relative to the projection geometry is reconstructed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Stefan Lautenschläger, Thomas Möller
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Patent number: 8135196Abstract: The invention relates to a pivotal poly-plane imaging unit having a first and a second imaging planes arranged relative to each other at an offset angle and recording projection images of an moving examination object at a fan angle ?. First and second projection images are recorded in different relative positions at respective instants by pivoting the imaging planes at an angle at least 180°+?. Characteristic structures in the first and second projection images are detected. The characteristic structures are segmented by a vectorial representation and triangulated to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures. Three-dimensional displacement vector fields are determined that indicate displacements of the three-dimensional representation of the characteristic structures relative to a reference instant. A three-dimensional image is reconstructed using the three-dimensional displacement vector fields to display a state of the moving examination object at the reference instant.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Benno Heigl
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Patent number: 8094773Abstract: A method is provided for quickly and simply generating a three-dimensional tomographic x-ray imaging. Tomosynthetic projection images are recorded from different recording angles along a tomosynthetic scanning path and three-dimensional image data is reconstructed from the tomosynthetic projection images. The tomosynthetic projection images are recorded by a tomosynthetic x-ray device with a plurality of x-ray sources arranged on a holder at a distance from one another. Each projection image is recorded by a different x-ray source being fixed in one place during recording the tomosynthetic projection images.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Jan Boese, Frank Dennerlein, Benno Heigl, Holger Kunze, Michael Maschke
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Patent number: 8068658Abstract: A computer receives a plurality of two-dimensional fluoroscopy images of an examination object, capture time points and projection parameters and combines the images into image groups. Each image group contains all the images, the capture time point of which is between a minimum and a maximum time point specific to the respective image group. When the image groups are sorted by ascending minimum time points, the corresponding maximum time points form a strictly monotonously ascending order. The respective minimum and maximum time points are determined so that the computer reconstructs a three-dimensional object reconstruction of the examination object based on the images assigned to the respective image group. A respective two-dimensional reconstruction display is determined by the respective three-dimensional object reconstruction and outputted to a user in a coding specific to the respective image group by a display device.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Klaus Klingenbeck-Regn
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Patent number: 8043003Abstract: It is possible that at a predetermined position of the imaging components of a radiographic imaging system the object is not fully viewed. The object can be a calibration phantom, which means that it is not possible to directly determine an imaging rule with the aid of the calibration phantom at this position of the imaging components. According to the invention, an imaging of the calibration phantom at a different position takes place and an imaging rule for this position is determined. This is then converted, provided a movement parameter is known which describes the movement from the position with the record of the calibration phantom to a different position. The imaging rule obtained in this way can be further improved, e.g. with the aid of a recording of the calibration phantom from the position in question, including if the calibration phantom is not completely imaged.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Florian Vogt, Holger Kunze, Benno Heigl
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Publication number: 20110075794Abstract: A method is provided for quickly and simply generating a three-dimensional tomographic x-ray imaging. Tomosynthetic projection images are recorded from different recording angles along a tomosynthetic scanning path and three-dimensional image data is reconstructed from the tomosynthetic projection images. The tomosynthetic projection images are recorded by a tomosynthetic x-ray device with a plurality of x-ray sources arranged on a holder at a distance from one another. Each projection image is recorded by a different x-ray source being fixed in one place during recording the tomosynthetic projection images.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: Jan Boese, Frank Dennerlein, Benno Heigl, Holger Kunze, Michael Maschke
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Patent number: 7839403Abstract: In a method and system for dual rendering of images, a first volume image is reconstructed with a computer. A second volume image is reconstructed with the computer. The first reconstructed volume image is adjusted for a desired rendering. The second volume image is adjusted for desired rendering. A dual rendering of the first and second volume images is displayed where one of the volume images can be seen through the other volume image. Also, a simultaneous generation of different types of reconstructed data sets out of a single acquisition run for those data sets corresponding to the dual rendered images is provided for. The diagnostic questions is shown in FIG. 5.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Michael Martens, Thomas Brunner, Peter Durlak
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Publication number: 20100246778Abstract: For detecting the relative location of a laser or laser fan beam relative to the x-ray geometry of an x-ray device, a method for calibrating the position of the laser fan beam generated by a laser in relation to the projection geometry of the x-ray device is proposed. The x-ray device comprises an x-ray imaging system featuring an x-ray source and an x-ray detector. The x-ray source, the x-ray detector, the laser, and an imaging facility are arranged on a support. An optical x-ray calibration phantom is used for the calibration. The position of the imaging facility relative to the projection geometry is determined. The position of the laser fan beam relative to the imaging facility is determined. The position of the laser fan beam relative to the projection geometry is reconstructed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Benno Heigl, Stefan Lautenschläger, Thomas Möller
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Patent number: 7780351Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining gray-scale values for volume elements of bodies to be mapped using an x-ray image recording system. When a body to be mapped is not mapped in full on a single projection image for a rotational position, a second projection image must be made and a virtual projection image derived from the two projection images, this being back-projected onto the volume elements. For calibration the present invention proposes making the same two projection images in each case at a calibration phantom and additionally a further projection image, corresponding to the position and orientation of the virtual projection image. As a result the mathematical relationships between the projection images and the virtual projection image and for the back-projection can be derived.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Stefan Hoppe, Joachim Hornegger, Günter Lauritsch
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Patent number: 7742557Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a 3D reconstruction of an especially large body that cannot be captured by a single projection by capturing at least two projections, which together capture the body, at each of the positions taken up by a C-arm X-ray unit. Data from the two projections is projected onto a virtual detector and the data from the virtual detector is then used for the filtered back projection procedure. It is assumed here that the real source remains motionless and that only the detector moves. A virtual detector D1?/D2? is only used in order to carry out large scale filtering in the event that real sources Q1 and Q2 for the two projections do not coincide. A return is then made to two independent projections. These two independent projections are used separately in the filtered back projection procedure to generate the 3D reconstruction.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Brunner, Benno Heigl, Holger Kunze, Florian Vogt
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Patent number: 7728834Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reconstructing a three-dimensional image volume from two-dimensional projection images of a subject which have been taken from different projection directions by rotating the recording system around the subject, wherein the grayscale values of the voxels of the image volume are calculated by back projection of the projection images. The invention is characterized in that prior to back projection at least one projection image is modified in such a way that it corresponds to a projection image taken with a virtual detector whose axes are aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the recording system.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft-MuenchenInventors: Thomas Brunner, Frank Deinzer, Jürgen Franke, Benno Heigl, Alois Nöttling
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Patent number: 7711083Abstract: To enable an artifact free reconstruction even in the case of large regions of interest and with scanning paths of below 360°, provision is made for a method, with which a three-dimensional image volume is reconstructed from a number of two-dimensional projection images of a region of interest, which were recorded about the region of interest during a rotation of a recording system, comprising an x-ray source with a focal point and a detector, by calculating the gray scale values of the voxels of the image volume by back projection of the projection images, with which each two-dimensional projection images is composed in each instance from at least two individual projection images to form an extended two-dimensional projection image, with the respectively at least two individual projection images being recorded with a constant relative position between the focal point and the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Benno Heigl, Stefan Hoppe, Joachim Hornegger, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Holger Scherl, Bernhard Scholz, Michael Zellerhoff