Patents by Inventor Dirk Schaefer

Dirk Schaefer 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: 20180242941
    Abstract: A three-dimensional morphological vessel model (20) can be obtained by assigning diameters (14,15) along the vessel derived from a two-dimensional morphological projection (10) at locations in the three-dimensional model defined by the temporal locations (21,22) of a trackable instrument (5). An apparatus (7), a system (1) and a method (100) for use of the system (1) in characterizing the vessel of a living being (2) by rendering a three-5 dimensional morphological vessel model (20) are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: MICHAEL GRASS, DIRK SCHAEFER, ARJEN VAN DER HORST
  • Patent number: 10052032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to stenosis therapy planning. A first volumetric data set is received by medical imaging of at least part of an artery comprising a stenosis. At least one two-dimensional image data (of the stenosis is received. A first arterial pressure drop is determined around the stenosis. A second volumetric data set is generated by registering the at least one two-dimensional image data with the first volumetric data set. A third volumetric data set is generated by simulating a geometry modification of the stenosis in the second volumetric data set and a second arterial pressure drop is estimated around the stenosis in the third volumetric data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Grass, Dirk Schaefer, Holger Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9867586
    Abstract: A double focal spot X-ray tube is used to acquire a set of two images PI?, PI? for a given gantry position from slightly different view positions. The stereo or binocular disparity (BD) of imaged structures is used to estimate the object depth in view direction, which in turn is used to discriminate between objects inside IO and outside EO the body. Respective structures are virtually removed from the images PI?, PI?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Cristian Lorenz, Michael Grass, Dirk Schäfer, Bernhard Johannes Brendel
  • Publication number: 20170367645
    Abstract: Minimally-invasive spinal inventions are often performed using fluoroscopic imaging methods, which can give a real-time impression of the location of a surgical instrument, at the expense of a small field of view. When operating on a spinal column, a small field of view can be a problem, because a medical professional is left with no reference vertebra in the fluoroscopy image, from which to identify a vertebra, which is the subject of the intervention. Identifying contiguous vertebrae is difficult because such contiguous vertebrae are similar in shape. However, characteristic features, which differentiate one vertebra from other vertebra, and which are visible in the fluoroscopic view, may be used to provide a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: TOBIAS KLINDER, EBERHARD SEBASTIAN HANSIS, MICHAEL GRASS, DIRK SCHAEFER, HANNO HEYKE HOMANN, CHRISTIAN HAASE
  • Publication number: 20170365059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (1) for adaptive segmentation. The system (1) comprises a configurator (10), which is configured to determine an adapted angular range (AR) with respect to an operation mode of the system (1) and which is configured to determine a segmentation parameter (SP) based on the adapted angular range (AR). Further, the system comprises an imaging sensor (20), which is configured to acquire images (I1, . . . , IN) within the adapted angular range (AR). Still further, the system comprises a segmentator (30), which is configured to generate a segmentation model based on the acquired images (I1, . . . , IN) using the determined segmentation parameter (SP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: AXEL SAALBACH, PIETER GERBEN ESHUIS, WILHELMUS HENRICA GERARDA MARIA VAN DEN BOOMEN, DIRK SCHÄFER, JUERGEN WEESE
  • Publication number: 20170350460
    Abstract: A brake caliper, for example a floating caliper, with a caliper housing and a guide element. The guide element fixed on one side to the caliper housing and moveably supported at a free end in a guide bushing. The guide bushing having a return mechanism that deflects with and returns the guide element to an initial position. The return mechanism also automatically adjusts when the guide element exceeds a predetermined amount of deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philipp Meise, Dirk Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20170340299
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system (10) for imaging an elongated region of interest of an object, an imaging method for imaging an elongated region of interest of an object, a computer program element for controlling such system for performing such method and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The imaging system (10) comprises an acquisition unit (11) and a processing unit (13). The acquisition unit (11) is a C-arm acquisition unit and configured to acquire first image data of the object to be imaged with a first imaging parameter. The acquisition unit (11) is further configured to acquire second, different image data of an object to be imaged with a second imaging parameter. The second geometric imaging parameter is defined based on object specific data for the volume data to be aligned with the elongated region of interest of the object to be imaged. The processing unit (13) is configured to combine the first and second image data into volume data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: MICHAEL GRASS, EBERHARD SEBASTIAN HANSIS, DIRK SCHÄFER, TOBIAS KLINDER, CHRISTIAN HAASE, HANNO HEYKE HOMANN
  • Publication number: 20170321298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for continuous treatment of a metal strip (1), in particular a metal strip consisting of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or consisting of a non-ferrous metal or a non-ferrous metal alloy, said device comprising at least one temperature control device (2) through which the metal strip (1) is guided in a floating manner, and comprising at least one strip position regulation unit (7), by means of which the position of the metal strip (1) can be controlled or regulated on the belt movement plane (E) and transversely to the strip running direction (B), wherein the temperature control device (2) has at least one entry-side heating section (3) and an exit-side cooling section (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Dieter BAUKLOH, Andreas NOE, Dirk SCHAEFER
  • Patent number: 9672651
    Abstract: A method for four dimensional reconstruction of regions exhibiting multiple phases of periodic motion includes the operation of building one or more 3-D reconstructions using a set of 2-D projections. The method further includes the operation of deriving one or more 3-D model segments from each of the one or more 3-D reconstructions, wherein a plurality of 3-D model segments are formed thereby, and wherein each of the one or more 3-D model segments is derived from a single one of the one or more 3-D model segments. The plurality of derived 3-D model segments forms a 4-D reconstruction of the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Schaefer, Michael Grass
  • Publication number: 20170150935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging system (10) for a vertebral level, an identification method for a vertebral level, a computer program element for controlling such system and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The imaging system (10) comprises a determination unit (11), a definition unit (12), an imaging unit (13), and a processing unit (14). The determination unit (11) determines a target vertebral level. The definition unit (12) defines an anatomical landmark of a spine. The imaging unit (13) provides a series of X-ray images along the spine based on the landmark. The processing unit (14) identifies the target vertebral level in at least one of the X-ray images. The processing unit (14) further stitches the X-ray images to a continuous panoramic image of the spine and identifies the target vertebral level in the panoramic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: EBERHARD SEBASTIAN HANSIS, DIRK SCHAEFER, MICHAEL GRASS
  • Publication number: 20170105685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a guidance device (10) for a TEE probe (20), a medical imaging system (1), a method for guiding a TEE probe (20), a computer program element for controlling such device and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The guidance device (10) for a TEE probe (20) comprises an image data provision unit (11), and a processing unit (12). The image data provision unit (11) is configured to provide first image data showing an interventional device (40) and a TEE probe (20) in an initial position and orientation. The processing unit (12) is configured to determine a center-line of the interventional device (40)in the first image data. The processing unit (12) is configured to determine a plane (41) orthogonal to a tangent of the centerline as viewing plane. The processing unit (12) is configured to calculate an imaging plane and an imaging orientation of the TEE probe (20) to lie approximately in the viewing plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: DIRK SCHÄFER, EBERHARD SEBASTIAN HANSIS, NIELS NIJHOF, MICHAEL GRASS
  • Patent number: 9592779
    Abstract: A device for configuring a vehicle having an interface for receiving at least one first equipment parameter, desired by a user, of the vehicle. The device includes a data memory for storing permissible vehicle configurations, the permissible vehicle configuration having mutually combinable equipment parameters of the vehicle. The device also includes a processor for predicting a vehicle configuration potentially desired by the user from the permissible vehicle configurations based on a correlation of the first equipment parameter desired by the user and at least one second equipment parameter. The vehicle configuration potentially desired by the user includes the first equipment parameter desired by the user and at least the second equipment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Martin Pietsch, Dirk Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20170035374
    Abstract: An interventional X-ray system (10), comprises a processing unit (30), a table (20) for receiving a patient (44), an X-ray image acquisition device (12) having an X-ray source (16) and an X-ray detector (18) and at least one optical camera (46) adapted for acquiring optical images of a patient (44) situated on the table (20) and for providing image data to the processing unit (30). The processing unit (30) is adapted for segmenting an outline (64) of a patient from an existing three-dimensional model, for receiving acquired images from the at least one camera (46) for determining an optical outline (66) of the patient, for registering the optical outline (66) to the outline (64) obtained in the segmentation and for determining a translation vector (48) representing a required movement of the table for coinciding a center (42) of the anatomy of interest given in the three-dimensional model with the iso-center (38) of a rotational X-ray scan that will be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: DIRK SCHÄFER, ROBERT JOHANNES FREDERIK HOMAN, MICHAEL GRASS
  • Patent number: 9439605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a C-arm X-ray imaging system. In order to provide C-arm systems with an extended three-dimensional field of view, a C-arm X-ray imaging system (10), provided to acquire extended three-dimensional images of an object, is provided, comprising a C-arm structure (12) with an X-ray source (14) and an X-ray detector (16) mounted across from the X-ray source, a motorized drive (22) for a rotational movement of the C-arm structure, and a control unit (26). The C-arm structure is provided to perform a rotational scan around an axis of rotation and around an ISO-center acquiring a number of X-ray projections in order to generate image data for a reconstructed three-dimensional field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Schäfer, Michael Grass
  • Publication number: 20160242854
    Abstract: A medical system for imaging includes a processor (114) and memory (116) coupled to the processor. The memory includes an optical shape sensing module (115) configured to receive shape sensing data from a shape sensing system (104) coupled to a medical instrument (102). The shape sensing system is configured to measure a shape and position of the medical instrument. An image generation module (148) is configured to detect and digitally remove image artifacts of the medical instrument from a generated image based on at least the shape and the position of the medical instrument as measured by the shape sensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michael GRASS, Dirk SCHÄFER, Robert MANZKE, Raymond CHAN
  • Publication number: 20160066795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to stenosis therapy planning. A first volumetric data set is received by medical imaging of at least part of an artery comprising a stenosis. At least one two-dimensional image data (of the stenosis is received. A first arterial pressure drop is determined around the stenosis. A second volumetric data set is generated by registering the at least one two-dimensional image data with the first volumetric data set. A third volumetric data set is generated by simulating a geometry modification of the stenosis in the second volumetric data set and a second arterial pressure drop is estimated around the stenosis in the third volumetric data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Michael GRASS, Dirk SCHAEFER, Holger SCHMITT
  • Patent number: 9280837
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an angiographic image acquisition system and method which can beneficially be used in the scope of minimally invasive image-guided interventions. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for graphically visualizing a pre-interventionally virtual 3D representation of a patient's coronary artery tree's vessel segments in a region of interest of a patient's cardiovascular system to be three-dimensionally reconstructed. Optionally, this 3D representation can then be fused with an intraoperatively acquired fluoroscopic 2D live image of an interventional tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Grass, Dirk Schaefer, Gert Antonius Franciscus Schoonenberg
  • Publication number: 20160052471
    Abstract: A device for configuring a vehicle having an interface for receiving at least one first equipment parameter, desired by a user, of the vehicle. The device includes a data memory for storing permissible vehicle configurations, the permissible vehicle configuration having mutually combinable equipment parameters of the vehicle. The device also includes a processor for predicting a vehicle configuration potentially desired by the user from the permissible vehicle configurations based on a correlation of the first equipment parameter desired by the user and at least one second equipment parameter. The vehicle configuration potentially desired by the user includes the first equipment parameter desired by the user and at least the second equipment parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Martin PIETSCH, Dirk SCHÄFER
  • Patent number: 9165385
    Abstract: A method includes generating with a processor (122) a three-dimensional subject specific model of structure of interest of a subject to be scanned based on a general three-dimensional model and pre-scan image data acquired by an imaging system (100) generating with the processor (122) an imaging plan for the subject based on the three-dimensional subject specific model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Klaus Erhard, Michael Grass, Dirk Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9087404
    Abstract: Computed tomography (CT) reconstruction includes reconstructing an axially extended reconstructed image from a measured cone beam x-ray projection data set (Pm), optionally having an off-center geometry. The reconstructing is performed for an extended volume (eFOV) comprising a reconstructable volume (rFOV) of the measured cone beam x ray data set that is extended along the axial direction. The projection data set may be weighted in the volume domain. Iterative reconstruction may be used, including initializing a constant volume and performing one or more iterations employing a first iterative update followed by one or more iterations employing a second, different iterative update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Eberhard S. Hansis, Dirk Schaefer, Michael Grass