Patents by Inventor Darin Robert Okerlund
Darin Robert Okerlund 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: 20160012613Abstract: A method is provided including determining at least one range of phases of a cardiac cycle from which to select a selected phase based on at least one of patient demographic information, patient physiological information, or a general physiological model. The method also includes generating corresponding intermediate images for each of the phases of the at least one range of phases. Further, the method includes selecting the selected phase based on at least one image quality (IQ) metric of the intermediate images. Also, the method includes generating an image for diagnostic use using imaging information from the selected phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Darin Robert Okerlund, Sandeep Dutta, Brian Edward Nett, David Pazzani, Daniel Stassi, Tal Gilat Schmidt
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Patent number: 8811707Abstract: A system and method for distributed and coordinated image processing of tomographic images utilizing processors on a medical imaging device and a separate workstation is disclosed. The system includes an image acquisition device to acquire image data of a subject and an image processor to receive the image data therefrom. The image processor is programmed to reconstruct initial images of a region-of-interest (ROI) from the image data, identify initial images on which to perform image correction, and generate an image correction request for the images identified for image correction, with the image correction request specifying a processing operation to be performed on the respective images. The image processor is further programmed to transfer the reconstructed initial images to a separate workstation that automatically initiates the image correction upon verifying a presence of an image correction request on the initial images so as to generate corrected images.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Irvin Jackson, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Maria Iatrou, Jed Douglas Pack
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Patent number: 8494244Abstract: A system and method for dual energy CT spectral imaging that provides for accurate blood vessel stenosis visualization and quantification is disclosed. The CT system includes an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward a region-of-interest of a patient that includes a blood vessel in a stenosed condition and having a plaque material therein. The CT system also includes an x-ray detector to receive x-rays emitted by the x-ray source and attenuated by the region-of-interest, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the x-ray detector, and a computer programmed to obtain a first set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a first chromatic energy level, obtain a second set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a second chromatic energy level that is higher than the first chromatic energy level, and identify plaque material in the region-of-interest by analyzing the second set of CT image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandeep Dutta, Darin Robert Okerlund, Toshihiro Rifu
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Patent number: 8483804Abstract: A method for reconstructing images of structures undergoing physiological motion comprises acquiring a first volume of data over a first motion cycle. The first volume comprises a first overlap volume. A second volume of data is acquired over a second motion cycle and comprises a second overlap volume. The first and second overlap volumes comprise like anatomical regions with respect to each other. A reconstructed volume of data is formed based on temporal data within the first and second overlap volumes.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Xiangyang Tang, Baojun Li, Darin Robert Okerlund
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Publication number: 20130051643Abstract: A system and method for distributed and coordinated image processing of tomographic images utilizing processors on a medical imaging device and a separate workstation is disclosed. The system includes an image acquisition device to acquire image data of a subject and an image processor to receive the image data therefrom. The image processor is programmed to reconstruct initial images of a region-of-interest (ROI) from the image data, identify initial images on which to perform image correction, and generate an image correction request for the images identified for image correction, with the image correction request specifying a processing operation to be performed on the respective images. The image processor is further programmed to transfer the reconstructed initial images to a separate workstation that automatically initiates the image correction upon verifying a presence of an image correction request on the initial images so as to generate corrected images.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Inventors: John Irvin Jackson, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Maria Iatrou, Jed Douglas Pack
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Publication number: 20120243761Abstract: A system and method for estimating vascular flow using CT imaging include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire a first set of data comprising anatomical information of an imaging subject, the anatomical information comprises information of at least one vessel. The instructions further cause the computer to process the anatomical information to generate an image volume comprising the at least one vessel, generate hemodynamic information based on the image volume, and acquire a second set of data of the imaging subject. The computer is also caused to generate an image comprising the hemodynamic information in combination with a visualization based on the second set of data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Robert F. Senzig, Ravikanth Avancha, Bijan Dorri, Sandeep Dutta, Steven J. Gray, Jiang Hsieh, John Irvin Jackson, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Paul Edgar Licato, Darin Robert Okerlund, Toshihiro Rifu, Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Basel Taha, Peter Michael Edic, Jerome Knoplioch, Rahul Bhotika
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Publication number: 20120076377Abstract: A system and method for dual energy CT spectral imaging that provides for accurate blood vessel stenosis visualization and quantification is disclosed. The CT system includes an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward a region-of-interest of a patient that includes a blood vessel in a stenosed condition and having a plaque material therein. The CT system also includes an x-ray detector to receive x-rays emitted by the x-ray source and attenuated by the region-of-interest, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the x-ray detector, and a computer programmed to obtain a first set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a first chromatic energy level, obtain a second set of CT image data for the region-of-interest at a second chromatic energy level that is higher than the first chromatic energy level, and identify plaque material in the region-of-interest by analyzing the second set of CT image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: Sandeep Dutta, Darin Robert Okerlund, Toshihiro Rifu
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Publication number: 20100310036Abstract: A method and apparatus of computed tomography includes accessing multiple-energy computed tomography data and decomposing the multiple-energy computed tomography data to generate a monochromatic image including an anatomical region. The method and apparatus also includes segmenting the anatomical region from the monochromatic image to create a segmented region and generating a composite image including the segmented region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sarah Jean Burleton, Sandeep Dutta, Bradley J. Gabrielse, Sardar Gautham, Darin Robert Okerlund
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Patent number: 7778385Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
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Patent number: 7734005Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
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Patent number: 7636462Abstract: A method and system for filtering medical images is described. The described method of filtering medical images includes receiving image data including a plurality of images from an image scan, determining a number of interpolation elements based on a slice thickness of the plurality of images, and filtering the image data using the determined interpolation elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh, Xiangyang Tang, Darin Robert Okerlund, Melissa L. Vass, Kelly Ann Mohr
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Publication number: 20090310740Abstract: A method of computed tomography is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring a first plurality of views during a first helical pass and acquiring a second plurality of views during a second helical pass. The method also includes generating an image based on both the first plurality of views and the second plurality of views.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: PAUL E. LICATO, JIANG HSIEH, DARIN ROBERT OKERLUND, UWE WIEDMANN
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Patent number: 7613275Abstract: A method for combining images acquired using helical half-scan imaging comprises identifying an image plane within an overlap region comprising data from first and second view streams representative of first and second cycles of acquired image data. The image plane comprises the same anatomical structure. First and second weighting functions are calculated for first and second images based on first and second tube positions of an x-ray tube. The first and second images correspond to the image plane and are from the first and second view streams, respectively. The first and second tube positions also correspond to the image plane. A weighted image is then formed based on the first and second weighting functions and the first and second images.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh, Melissa L. Vass, Xiangyang Tang, John Howard Londt, Darin Robert Okerlund
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Patent number: 7558363Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a gantry and a table in a movable relationship with the gantry. The CT imaging system also includes a controller configured to control relative movement between a subject disposed on the table and the gantry from a first data acquisition position to a second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to determine a total scan time based on a first time for acquiring imaging data at the first data acquisition position and a second time for transitioning from the first data acquisition position to the second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to disable data acquisition in an immediately subsequent cardiac cycle and re-enable data acquisition in the cardiac cycle following the immediately subsequent cardiac cycle if the total scan time exceeds one cardiac cycle of the subject. A method of CT imaging is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, Melissa L. Vass, Xiangyang Tang, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel, Kelly Ann Mohr, John Howard Londt
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Patent number: 7532702Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for performing computed tomography (CT) imaging. The method includes obtaining EKG gating information from an object and obtaining attenuation measurements from the object utilizing a detector that is rotated in a scan plane around the object. The method further includes performing a first reconstruction based on a first portion of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a first region of the detector, where the first reconstruction is performed independent of the EKG gating information to obtain a first reconstruction data set. A second reconstruction is performed based on a second port of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a second region of the detector, where the second reconstruction is performed based on the EKG gating information to obtain a second reconstruction data set.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Darin Robert Okerlund, Mark Edward Woodford
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Patent number: 7515678Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for performing computed tomography (CT) imaging. The method includes obtaining EKG gating information from an object and obtaining attenuation measurements from the object utilizing a detector that is rotated in a scan plane around the object. The method further includes performing a first reconstruction based on a first portion of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a first region of the detector, where the first reconstruction is performed independent of the EKG gating information to obtain a first reconstruction data set. A second reconstruction is performed based on a second port of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a second region of the detector, where the second reconstruction is performed based on the EKG gating information to obtain a second reconstruction data set.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Darin Robert Okerlund, Mark Edward Woodford
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Publication number: 20090018435Abstract: A method for reconstructing images of structures undergoing physiological motion comprises acquiring a first volume of data over a first motion cycle. The first volume comprises a first overlap volume. A second volume of data is acquired over a second motion cycle and comprises a second overlap volume. The first and second overlap volumes comprise like anatomical regions with respect to each other. A reconstructed volume of data is formed based on temporal data within the first and second overlap volumes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Xiangyang Tang, Baojun Li, Darin Robert Okerlund
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Patent number: 6947584Abstract: A volume imaging system which progressively constructs, analyzes, and updates three dimensional models while acquiring cross-sectional data is described. The system constructs and displays three-dimensional renderings, and performs quantitative calculations in real time during the imaging system data collection process, displays interactive three-dimensional renderings in a traditional post-data collection process, as well as prescribes, archives, films, and transmits rendering procedures, parameters, renderings, measurements, and processed data, during data collection and post-acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1999Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ricardo Scott Avila, James Vradenburg Miller, Robert Franklin Senzig, Hui David He, Darin Robert Okerlund
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Patent number: RE41740Abstract: A multi-sector back-off logic algorithm for obtaining optimal slice-sensitive computed tomography (“CT”) profiles. The systems and methods of the present invention improving the temporal resolution of a CT system by checking for Z location errors between sectors and automatically backing-off to an alternative multi-sector algorithm when necessary (i.e., selecting an optimized maximum number of sectors to reconstruct), providing less Z location error. Based upon this Z location error, the systems and methods of the present invention also calculating the maximum number of sectors that should be used for reconstruction “on-the-fly” (i.e., on a per image basis across an entire series of images). These systems and methods utilizing the Recommended Protocol for Cardiac Reconstruction Algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Darin Robert Okerlund, Mark Edward Woodford, Edward Henry Chao, Rajendra Kurady