Patents by Inventor Christoph Forman

Christoph Forman 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).

  • Publication number: 20180333067
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing dynamic image data is described. In the method, raw data is acquired in a time-dependent manner from an examination region, wherein at least some of the raw data is assigned various values of movement parameters. First time-dependent image data based on acquired raw data is reconstructed. Furthermore, deformation fields based on the first image data are determined as a function of at least two time-dependent movement parameters. Based on the deformation fields, the raw data and the first image data, corrected image data is then generated. Furthermore, a reconstruction apparatus is described. Moreover, a magnetic resonance imaging system is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Peter Speier, Marcel Dominik Nickel
  • Publication number: 20180271400
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing respiration-corrected MR images of an examination volume containing the heart of a patient during respiratory movement of MR signals are recorded continuously during multiple cardiac cycles, each cardiac cycle having multiple time segments. One 2D navigator image data record per cardiac cycle is recorded during a time segment of that cardiac cycle, with k-space being filled along a Cartesian trajectory such that a spatial resolution is achieved in two spatial directions of the examination volume. Also, multiple 3D image data records are recorded in the other time segments of that cardiac cycle, with Cartesian filling of raw data space such that a spatial resolution is achieved in all three spatial directions of the examination volume. The respiratory movement is then determined from these navigator data records. The determined respiratory movement is corrected in the recorded MR signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Ivo Prochaska, Jens Wetzl
  • Publication number: 20180253844
    Abstract: In a method and processor for evaluating a contrast agent-enhanced two-dimensional magnetic resonance slice image of a heart of a patient in order to determine picture elements revealing contrast agent deposits in the myocardium, an endocardium contour in the magnetic resonance slice image, taking into consideration deposition information describing picture elements potentially revealing contrast agent deposits and determined by image analysis on the basis of a shape assumption for the heart structure that is to be examined, in particular the left ventricle, such that picture elements potentially revealing contrast agent deposits are avoided as much as possible as a contour component. An epicardium contour enclosing the endocardium contour is then determined. Picture elements are marked that indicate contrast agent enhancement in the myocardium lying between the epicardium contour and the endocardium contour as contrast agent deposit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Tanja Kurzendorfer, Alexander Brost
  • Publication number: 20180217215
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for recording diagnostic measurement data of a heart of an examination object, the magnetic resonance apparatus is operated by a control sequence wherein an RF pulse excites nuclear spins with a flip angle of at least 60°, the diagnostic measurement data are recorded in a coordinate system independent of the heart, and the basic magnetic field produced by the magnetic resonance apparatus is smaller than 1.0 tesla.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Edgar Mueller, Michaela Schmidt, Jens Wetzl
  • Patent number: 10001539
    Abstract: A method is for determining a type of reconstruction of image data from a magnetic resonance measurement of an examination object by way of a magnetic resonance device. In an embodiment, the method includes determining at least one first parameter which includes information about a breathing process of the examination object; comparing the at least one first parameter with at least one second parameter from a maintained database; and determining a type of reconstruction of image data of the magnetic resonance measurement according to the comparison that has been made. In an example embodiment, at least one of the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter is derived from a histogram of respiratory phases and the maintained database includes a self-learning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Jens Wetzl
  • Publication number: 20180042512
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for recording diagnostic measurement data of a heart of an examination object in a heart imaging via a magnetic resonance device. In an embodiment, the method for recording diagnostic measurement data of a heart of an examination object in a heart imaging, via a magnetic resonance device, includes carrying out of at least two overview recordings of the heart of the examination object, wherein overview measurement data is acquired; and carrying out of at least two diagnostic recordings of the heart of the examination object based on the acquired overview measurement data. The diagnostic measurement data is acquired in the at least two diagnostic recordings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph FORMAN, Michaela SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20170242086
    Abstract: A method for generating at least one acquisition template for an acquisition of magnetic resonance signals, an acquisition template generating unit, a magnetic resonance apparatus and a computer program product. At least one acquisition template is generated with an acquisition template generating unit. The at least one acquisition template has a plurality of spiral-like spokes in a k-space, each spoke having a plurality of spiral points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Jens Wetzl, Christoph Forman, Peter Speier
  • Patent number: 9712789
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the generation of image data of a moving subject, raw data are initially acquired for a region comprising the subject at different measurement points in time in different movement phases of the subject. A reconstruction then takes place of multiple interim image data sets of the subject from the raw data that are respectively associated with different movement phases of the subject. Deviation data are then determined between the interim image data sets of the different movement phases of the subject, and the reconstruction of image data from raw data of different movement phases then takes place under consideration of the deviation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Michael Zenge
  • Publication number: 20170124730
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for reconstructing medical image data which has access to free capacities of at least two computers and manages the use thereof for the purposes of the reconstruction. The method is a particularly reliable alternative to the reconstruction of medical image data based on algorithms that would require a working memory of above-average size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Rainer Kirsch, Christian Muehlhaeusser, Edgar Mueller, Peter Speier
  • Patent number: 9626777
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the generation of image data of a moving subject inside a body, raw data are initially acquired for a region encompassing the subject at different measurement points in time, and position overview data for the different measurement points in time are generated on the basis of at least a portion of the raw data. A scattering of the position overview data is then determined, which scattering is dependent on the measurement point in time. Spatial test regions within the position overview data are selected depending on the scattering. Trust parameter values are determined for the individual test regions, and a reconstruction of image data then takes place on the basis of the raw data under consideration of the trust parameter values of the different test regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christoph Forman
  • Publication number: 20170011526
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for segmenting a balloon-type volume having an inner surface and an outer surface in an image data record, that is provided to a computer, the image data record at least partially mapping a balloon-type volume, the computer is provided with a starting area and determines a first boundary surface as an inner surface of the balloon-type volume. The computer is provided with a starting surface in the balloon-type volume, and determines a second boundary surface as an outer surface of the balloon-type volume on the basis of the starting surface. The balloon-type volume is determined in the computer as a volume within the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Brost, Christoph Forman, Tanja Kurzendorfer
  • Publication number: 20160306022
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for generating time-resolved images of an examination object, which executes a cyclical movement, and to a magnetic resonance device, and a computer program product herefor. According to a first aspect, at least one spatial magnetization pattern with spatial magnetization differences is generated during a magnetization of the examination object. Furthermore, magnetic resonance signals of the examination object are acquired after generating the spatial magnetization pattern throughout at least one cycle of the cyclical movement. At least one k-space is undersampled here during the acquisition of the magnetic resonance signals. Time-resolved images are generated based on the acquired magnetic resonance signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Andreas Greiser
  • Publication number: 20160054419
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a type of reconstruction of image data from a magnetic resonance measurement of an examination object by way of a magnetic resonance device. In an embodiment, the method includes determining at least one first parameter which includes information about a breathing process of the examination object; comparing the at least one first parameter with at least one second parameter from a maintained database; and determining a type of reconstruction of image data of the magnetic resonance measurement according to the comparison that has been made. In an example embodiment, at least one of the at least one first parameter and the at least one second parameter is derived from a histogram of respiratory phases and the maintained database includes a self-learning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph FORMAN, Jens WETZL
  • Publication number: 20150015691
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the generation of image data of a moving subject, raw data are initially acquired for a region comprising the subject at different measurement points in time in different movement phases of the subject. A reconstruction then takes place of multiple interim image data sets of the subject from the raw data that are respectively associated with different movement phases of the subject. Deviation data are then determined between the interim image data sets of the different movement phases of the subject, and the reconstruction of image data from raw data of different movement phases then takes place under consideration of the deviation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christoph Forman, Michael Zenge
  • Publication number: 20140301622
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the generation of image data of a moving subject inside a body, raw data are initially acquired for a region encompassing the subject at different measurement points in time, and position overview data for the different measurement points in time are generated on the basis of at least a portion of the raw data. A scattering of the position overview data is then determined, which scattering is dependent on the measurement point in time. Spatial test regions within the position overview data are selected depending on the scattering. Trust parameter values are determined for the individual test regions, and a reconstruction of image data then takes place on the basis of the raw data under consideration of the trust parameter values of the different test regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christoph Forman
  • Patent number: 8848977
    Abstract: The tracking and compensation of patient motion during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition is an unsolved problem. A self-encoded marker where each feature on the pattern is augmented with a 2-D barcode is provided. Hence, the marker can be tracked even if it is not completely visible in the camera image. Furthermore, it offers considerable advantages over a simple checkerboard marker in terms of processing speed, since it makes the correspondence search of feature points and marker-model coordinates, which are required for the pose estimation, redundant. Significantly improved accuracy is obtained for both phantom experiments and in-vivo experiments with substantial patient motion. In an alternative aspect, a marker having non-coplanar features can be employed to provide improved motion tracking. Such a marker provides depth cues that can be exploited to improve motion tracking. The aspects of non-coplanar patterns and self-encoded patterns can be practiced independently or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Roland Bammer, Christoph Forman, Murat Aksoy
  • Publication number: 20120121124
    Abstract: The tracking and compensation of patient motion during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition is an unsolved problem. A self-encoded marker where each feature on the pattern is augmented with a 2-D barcode is provided. Hence, the marker can be tracked even if it is not completely visible in the camera image. Furthermore, it offers considerable advantages over a simple checkerboard marker in terms of processing speed, since it makes the correspondence search of feature points and marker-model coordinates, which are required for the pose estimation, redundant. Significantly improved accuracy relative to a planar checkerboard pattern is obtained for both phantom experiments and in-vivo experiments with substantial patient motion. In an alternative aspect, a marker having non-coplanar features can be employed to provide improved motion tracking. Such a marker provides depth cues that can be exploited to improve motion tracking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Roland Bammer, Christoph Forman, Murat Aksoy