Patents by Inventor Charles H. Cunningham
Charles H. Cunningham 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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Publication number: 20230292787Abstract: A waffle cone coating assembly is disclosed. The waffle cone coating assembly includes a fountain assembly disposed within a basin. The fountain assembly includes a tube having an upper end spaced from the basin and a nozzle disposed at the upper end of the tube. The nozzle includes a plurality of coating outlets. A flange is disposed below the nozzle and includes a diameter greater than a diameter of the nozzle. A coating material is recirculated from the basin through the plurality of coating outlets and returns to the basin.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Kilwins Chocolates Franchise, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Mark Audia, Donald Wayne McCarty, Peter Gallagher Wendland, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 11269025Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and a method of obtaining a magnetic resonance image by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple slices simultaneously. The method comprises generating a multiband pulse sequence for spin-echo imaging, the pulse sequence comprising a multiband excitation pulse and at least one multiband refocusing pulse, wherein the multiband excitation pulse simultaneously excites multiple bands, wherein the at least one multiband refocusing pulse simultaneously refocuses the multiple bands, and wherein the phases of the bands excited by the multiband excitation pulse and the phases of the bands refocused by the at least one multiband refocusing pulse are set according to a single row of an orthogonal encoding matrix. The multiband excitation pulse and the at least one multiband refocusing pulse collectively form a multiband pulse pair.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Jeffrey A. Stainsby, Andrew T. Curtis
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Publication number: 20200217909Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and a method of obtaining a magnetic resonance image by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple slices simultaneously. The method comprises generating a multiband pulse sequence for spin-echo imaging, the pulse sequence comprising a multiband excitation pulse and at least one multiband refocusing pulse, wherein the multiband excitation pulse simultaneously excites multiple bands, wherein the at least one multiband refocusing pulse simultaneously refocuses the multiple bands, and wherein the phases of the bands excited by the multiband excitation pulse and the phases of the bands refocused by the at least one multiband refocusing pulse are set according to a single row of an orthogonal encoding matrix. The multiband excitation pulse and the at least one multiband refocusing pulse collectively form a multiband pulse pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Charles H. CUNNINGHAM, Jeffrey A. STAINSBY, Andrew T. CURTIS
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Patent number: 10605883Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for correcting magnetic resonance data for off-resonance effects arising from the use of a multi-echo echo planar imaging (“EPI”) pulse sequence. Reference data are acquired, from which phase maps are computed in a distorted coordinate space associated with geometric distortions associated with the multi-echo EPI acquisition. Images reconstructed from the magnetic resonance data are demodulated using the distorted phase maps to produce distortion free images of the subject. Advantageously, the systems and methods can be used to reconstruct distortion free images from magnetic resonance data that is otherwise prone to image distortions from off-resonance errors, including data acquired from hyperpolarized nuclear spin species such as hyperpolarized carbon-13.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Benjamin J. Geraghty, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 10591556Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and a method of obtaining a magnetic resonance image by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple slices simultaneously. The method comprises generating a multiband pulse sequence for spin-echo imaging, the pulse sequence comprising a multiband excitation pulse and at least one multiband refocusing pulse, wherein the multiband excitation pulse simultaneously excites multiple bands, wherein the at least one multiband refocusing pulse simultaneously refocuses the multiple bands, and wherein the phases of the bands excited by the multiband excitation pulse and the phases of the bands refocused by the at least one multiband refocusing pulse are set according to a single row of an orthogonal encoding matrix. The multiband excitation pulse and the at least one multiband refocusing pulse collectively form a multiband pulse pair.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Jeffrey A. Stainsby, Andrew T. Curtis
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Publication number: 20190128976Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and a method of obtaining a magnetic resonance image by performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple slices simultaneously. The method comprises generating a multiband pulse sequence for spin-echo imaging, the pulse sequence comprising a multiband excitation pulse and at least one multiband refocusing pulse, wherein the multiband excitation pulse simultaneously excites multiple bands, wherein the at least one multiband refocusing pulse simultaneously refocuses the multiple bands, and wherein the phases of the bands excited by the multiband excitation pulse and the phases of the bands refocused by the at least one multiband refocusing pulse are set according to a single row of an orthogonal encoding matrix. The multiband excitation pulse and the at least one multiband refocusing pulse collectively form a multiband pulse pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Jeffrey A. Stainsby, Andrew T. Curtis
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Publication number: 20170307717Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for correcting magnetic resonance data for off-resonance effects arising from the use of a multi-echo echo planar imaging (“EPI”) pulse sequence. Reference data are acquired, from which phase maps are computed in a distorted coordinate space associated with geometric distortions associated with the multi-echo EPI acquisition. Images reconstructed from the magnetic resonance data are demodulated using the distorted phase maps to produce distortion free images of the subject. Advantageously, the systems and methods can be used to reconstruct distortion free images from magnetic resonance data that is otherwise prone to image distortions from off-resonance errors, including data acquired from hyperpolarized nuclear spin species such as hyperpolarized carbon-13.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: BENJAMIN J. GERAGHTY, CHARLES H. CUNNINGHAM
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Patent number: 9283317Abstract: Disclosed embodiments for assessing brown adipose tissue use imaging of metabolic contrast agents. For example, activated brown adipose tissue may be assessed by evaluating a difference in production of the hyperpolarized 13C metabolic contrast agent from a pre-polarized 13C metabolic contrast agent precursor before and after exposure of the subject to an activating event or agent. In one embodiment, the subject is given a dose of norepinephrine, and the production of the hyperpolarized 13C metabolic contrast agent before and after the dose is assessed.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Angus Zoen Lau, Albert Po-Fu Chen, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 9229077Abstract: A device for spatially encoding nuclear magnetic resonance signals is provided. The device includes a plurality of spatial-encoding elements configured to produce a spatial-encoding magnetic field in the presence of an external magnetic field, such as the main magnetic field of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system. The spatial-encoding elements include paramagnetic and diamagnetic spatial-encoding elements. The device further includes a support configured to hold the plurality of spatial-encoding elements in a fixed arrangement. By adjusting the orientation of the device, the spatial-encoding elements are moved relative to each other and thereby produce a plurality of different spatial-encoding magnetic fields. These spatial-encoding magnetic fields are used to spatially encode nuclear magnetic resonance signals emanating from spins in a volume-of-interest adjacent the device. An image reconstruction method for reconstructing images from signals spatially-encoded with the device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: SUNNYBROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTREInventors: Charles H Cunningham, Hirad Karimi
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Publication number: 20140275969Abstract: Disclosed embodiments for assessing brown adipose tissue use imaging of metabolic contrast agents. For example, activated brown adipose tissue may be assessed by evaluating a difference in production of the hyperpolarized 13C metabolic contrast agent from a pre-polarized 13C metabolic contrast agent precursor before and after exposure of the subject to an activating event or agent. In one embodiment, the subject is given a dose of norepinephrine, and the production of the hyperpolarized 13C metabolic contrast agent before and after the dose is assessed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Angus Zoen Lau, Albert Po-Fu Chen, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 8676295Abstract: A tracking device configured to be coupled to an interventional instrument and tracked by a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The tracking device includes, for example, paramagnetic and diamagnetic components that form first and second tracking members. When the tracking device is adjusted into a first arrangement, the tracking device will produce a local magnetic field in the presence of the magnetic field of an MRI system that is measurable by the MRI system. However, when the tracking device is adjusted into a second arrangement, the local magnetic field produced by the tracking device is reduced relative to the first arrangement, wherein the reduced local magnetic field produces substantially no magnetic field disturbances detectable by the MRI system. Images may be acquired of a patient in which the tracking device has been introduced and, using a numerical fitting method, an accurate location of the tracking device can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Sunnybrook Health Sciences CenterInventors: Charles H. Cunningham, William Dominquez-Viqueira
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Publication number: 20120310080Abstract: A tracking device configured to be coupled to an interventional instrument and tracked by a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The tracking device includes, for example, paramagnetic and diamagnetic components that form first and second tracking members. When the tracking device is adjusted into a first arrangement, the tracking device will produce a local magnetic field in the presence of the magnetic field of an MRI system that is measurable by the MRI system. However, when the tracking device is adjusted into a second arrangement, the local magnetic field produced by the tracking device is reduced relative to the first arrangement, wherein the reduced local magnetic field produces substantially no magnetic field disturbances detectable by the MRI system. Images may be acquired of a patient in which the tracking device has been introduced and, using a numerical fitting method, an accurate location of the tracking device can be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, William Dominquez-Viqueira
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Publication number: 20120268127Abstract: A device for spatially encoding nuclear magnetic resonance signals is provided. The device includes a plurality of spatial-encoding elements configured to produce a spatial-encoding magnetic field in the presence of an external magnetic field, such as the main magnetic field of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system. The spatial-encoding elements include paramagnetic and diamagnetic spatial-encoding elements. The device further includes a support configured to hold the plurality of spatial-encoding elements in a fixed arrangement. By adjusting the orientation of the device, the spatial-encoding elements are moved relative to each other and thereby produce a plurality of different spatial-encoding magnetic fields. These spatial-encoding magnetic fields are used to spatially encode nuclear magnetic resonance signals emanating from spins in a volume-of-interest adjacent the device. An image reconstruction method for reconstructing images from signals spatially-encoded with the device is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Hirad Karimi
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Patent number: 8035381Abstract: A computer implemented method for designing a spectral-spatial pulse for exciting at least one passband and minimally exciting at least one stopband is provided. A uniform shaped spectral envelope is generated. For a plurality of kz?0, kz dependent weights for a spectral envelope that approximate a kz=0 envelope and provides the at least one passband and the at least one stopband for each of the plurality of kz?0 is generated.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Michael Lustig, Charles H. Cunningham, Albert P. Chen, Daniel B. Vigneron, John M. Pauly
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Patent number: 7809424Abstract: Off-resonance imaging uses two complementary contrast agents with the first agent (iron-oxide) particles transfected into cells which provide localized signals. The second agent is detected from a change in the off-resonance signal when present in the cells labeled by the first agent.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Steven M. Conolly
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Publication number: 20100102812Abstract: A computer implemented method for designing a spectral-spatial pulse for exciting at least one passband and minimally exciting at least one stopband is provided. A uniform shaped spectral envelope is generated. For a plurality of kz?0, kz dependent weights for a spectral envelope that approximate a kz=0 envelope and provides the at least one passband and the at least one stopband for each of the plurality of kz?0 is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Michael Lustig, Charles H. Cunningham, Albert P. Chen, Daniel B. Vigneron, John M. Pauly
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Patent number: 7692423Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. A magnetic resonance excitation is provided. A magnetic field is read out through k-space using winders, wherein some of the winders overlap for a length of the winders. Readout data from overlapping lengths of winders is used to estimate motion. The readout may use a two dimensional discrete Fourier transform acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Michael Lustig, John M. Pauly
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Publication number: 20090091321Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. A magnetic resonance excitation is provided. A magnetic field is read out through k-space using winders, wherein some of the winders overlap for a length of the winders. Readout data from overlapping lengths of winders is used to estimate motion. The readout may use a two dimensional discrete Fourier transform acquisition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2007Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Michael Lustig, John M. Pauly
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Patent number: 7502640Abstract: Contrast agents incorporating super-paramagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have shown promise as a means to visualize labeled cells using MRI. Labeled cells cause significant signal dephasing due to the magnetic field inhomogeneity induced in water molecules near the cell. With the resulting signal void as the means for detection, the particles are behaving as a negative contrast agent, which can suffer from partial-volume effects. Disclosed is a new method for imaging labeled cells with positive contrast. Spectrally-selective RF pulses are used to excite and refocus the off-resonance water surrounding the labeled cells so that only the fluid and tissue immediately adjacent to the labeled cells are visible in the image. Phantom, in vitro, and in vivo experiments show the feasibility of the new method. A significant linear correlation (r=0.87, p<0.005) between the estimated number of cells and the signal has been observed.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Steven M. Conolly, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 7446526Abstract: For in vivo magnetic resonance imaging at high field (?3 T) it is essential to consider the homogeneity of the active B1 field (B1+), particularly if surface coils are used for RF transmission. A new method is presented for highly rapid B1+ magnitude mapping. It combines the double angle method with a B1-insensitive magnetization-reset sequence such that the choice of repetition time (TR) is independent of T1 and with a multi-slice segmented (spiral) acquisition to achieve volumetric coverage with adequate spatial resolution in a few seconds.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Charles H. Cunningham, Krishna S. Nayak, John M. Pauly