Patents by Inventor Bernhard Blümich

Bernhard Blümich 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: 10031255
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for characterizing samples containing a plurality of molecular species through the use of multi-dimensional spectra obtained by processing of measurements resulting from pulse sequences combining NMR spectroscopy and NMR relaxation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Qiao Song, Bernhard Bluemich
  • Publication number: 20150268323
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for characterizing samples containing a plurality of molecular species through the use of multi-dimensional spectra obtained by processing of measurements resulting from pulse sequences combining NMR spectroscopy and NMR relaxation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: YI-QIAO SONG, BERNHARD BLUEMICH
  • Patent number: 8952691
    Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance measurements on a sample includes applying a first predetermined number of pulse trains for excitation, each pulse train having a constant amplitude and including a second predetermined number of pulses spaced by a predetermined time interval. The pulse trains are modulated by a bent function. After each pulse, data is sampled. Preferably a square number of pulses is generated being constant in power, and the Walsh transform of the sequence of their phases is constant in power, so that the power of the excitation in time and frequency domain is constant. The method can reduce power requirements and may permit undercutting specific absorption rate (SAR) limits due to the small excitation power necessary to create time signals with reasonable signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: RWTH Aachen, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland
    Inventors: Bernhard Blümich, Marcus Greferath, Eimear Byrne, Qingxia Gong
  • Publication number: 20110241667
    Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance measurements on a sample includes applying a first predetermined number of pulse trains for excitation, each pulse train having a constant amplitude and including a second predetermined number of pulses spaced by a predetermined time interval. The pulse trains are modulated by a bent function. After each pulse, data is sampled. Preferably a square number of pulses is generated being constant in power, and the Walsh transform of the sequence of their phases is constant in power, so that the power of the excitation in time and frequency domain is constant. The method can reduce power requirements and may permit undercutting specific absorption rate (SAR) limits due to the small excitation power necessary to create time signals with reasonable signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicants: RWTH AACHEN, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIBVERSITY OF IRELAND
    Inventors: Bernhard Blümich, Marcus Greferath, Eimear Byrne, Qingxia Gong
  • Patent number: 7358734
    Abstract: A low-cost single-sided NMR sensor to produce depth profiles with microscopic spatial resolution is presented. The open geometry of the NMR sensor provides a non-invasive and non-destructive testing method to characterize the depth structure of objects of arbitrary size. The permanent magnet geometry generates one plane of constant magnetic field intensity parallel to the scanner surface. By combining the highly uniform static gradient with selective RF excitation, a thin flat sensitive slice can be defined. By moving the relative position between the slice and the object, one-dimensional profiles of the near surface of large samples are produced with high spatial resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: AixNMR Zentrum für Magnetische Resonanz e.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Blümich, Federico Casanova, Juan Perlo
  • Patent number: 7095230
    Abstract: In a unilateral NMR probe for the analysis of a material comprising at least one magnet for generating a constant time-invariant polarization field B0 in the material to be analyzed and current conductors forming a radio frequency oscillation circuit for generating a pulsed radio frequency magnetic excitation field B1 which is superimposed on the polarization field N0 in the material, the circuit conductors are so designed as to provide several adjacent excitation fields B0 with alternatingly oppositely oriented magnetic fields, whereby the current conductors generating each one of the excitation fields have a distance from each other which causes a certain penetration depth in the material to be analyzed and echoes received therefrom provide measurement values which are characteristic for the material being analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventors: Bernhard Blümich, Michael Bruder, Martin Klein, Karl-Heinz Krause, Michael Rabkin, Jürgen Stangenberg, Vladimir Anferov, Sophia Anferova, Radu Fechete
  • Patent number: 7015694
    Abstract: Stochastic pulsing using random or pseudo-random sequences is used for determination of nuclear spin properties of earth formations. This reduces the power requirements. Processing of the received signals may include linear or nonlinear cross-correlation with the excitation pulse sequence. Inversion of the results of the processing gives the desired nuclear spin property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Bernhard Blümich
  • Patent number: 6700372
    Abstract: In a method for generating measurement signals in time constant inhomogeneous magnetic fields, which are produced by a NMR-MOUSE apparatus in the surrounding medium, a static magnetic polarization field B0 and a pulsed magnetic polarization field B1 are generated, whereby echo signals S are generated which are measured, and an additional pulsed or oscillating magnetic field Bz is provided, which affects the echo signals S so as to generate contrasts for the measuring locations of the echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Bernhard Blümich, Peter Blümler
  • Patent number: 6489767
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of single-sided MRI with a palm-sized probe. The probe includes a planar permanent magnet having a gap between the north and south poles of the magnet. Positioned in the gap are an RF coil and a pair of gradient coils. The gradient coils are located on either side of the RF coil. The probe further includes an RF tuning circuit and a gradient input. In use, the pair of gradient coils produce a controlled magnetic field gradient over the field of view thereby improving image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo J. Prado, Bernhard Blümich