Patents by Inventor Dominik Paul

Dominik Paul 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: 20180238984
    Abstract: A method for setting an operating parameter of a medical device is provided. The method includes determining a current operating mode of the medical device. A time span available for setting the operating parameter is derived from the determined current operating mode. A setting range of the operating parameter necessary for fulfilling a pre-determined criterion is determined. A setting time necessary for setting the operating parameter according to the determined setting range is determined, and the operating parameter is set according to the setting range, provided the time span available for the setting is at least as long as the necessary setting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Daniel Nico Splitthoff, Thorsten Feiweier
  • Publication number: 20180238979
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance apparatus having a scanner that generates a basic magnetic field in an imaging volume, and an operating method to acquire data from an entirety of a recording volume, wherein the scanner has a global shim coil acting on the entire imaging volume, and a local shim coil acting, with the global shim coil, on a sub-volume containing a region of interest, a first adjustment volume is established that contains the recording volume. A smaller, second adjustment volume is established containing the region of interest, and at most, the sub-volume. Using a field map of the basic magnetic field that covers the first adjustment volume, shim currents are respectively identified for the global shim unit, for homogenizing the first adjustment volume, and for the local shim unit, for homogenizing the second adjustment volume, accounting for the effect of the first shim currents on the second adjustment volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Niederloehner, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10054659
    Abstract: In a method for recording magnetic resonance data in a target region of a patient while the target region moves due to respiration a single-shot turbo spin echo sequence is used as a magnetic resonance sequence in a magnetic resonance apparatus. SPAIR fat saturation is used by emitting an inversion pulse at an inversion time before the data recording with the magnetic resonance apparatus. Multiple repetitions of the sequence of an inversion pulse, an inversion time and a data recording using the magnetic resonance sequence are triggered by a respiratory signal describing the respiratory cycle, each repetition occurring upon fulfillment of a recording criterion. At least one further inversion pulse is emitted in a waiting time between the sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Antje Kickhefel, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10054656
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance data acquisition unit is operated according to an imaging protocol wherein at least one echo spacing exists following radiation of an excitation RF pulse, via an RF channel that includes an RF amplifier, and a subsequent readout of an echo. Loading of the RF amplifier is reduced by lengthening the echo spacing in the imaging protocol. One or more refocusing RF pulses are radiated with a lengthened echo spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Wilhelm Horger, Miriam Keil, John Mugler, Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20180231627
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining the fat content of the liver of a patient using measured spectral magnetic resonance data, wherein a first contribution to the spectral magnetic resonance data is based on fat, a second contribution to the spectral magnetic resonance data is based on water and on a further substance, a frequency range that forms the basis of the spectral magnetic resonance data is subdivided at least into a first subrange and into a second subrange, the second contribution is approximated using the spectral magnetic resonance data from the second subrange. The first contribution is determined taking into account the spectral magnetic resonance data and the approximation of the second contribution. The fat content is determined on the basis of the first contribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Ralf Kartaeusch
  • Patent number: 10048334
    Abstract: A test method for a reordering algorithm of a 3D spin echo magnetic resonance pulse sequence is provided, in which echo train positions are checked for at least two k-space elements. Further, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a magnetic resonance tomography system which comprises a test device for testing a reordering algorithm of a 3D spin echo magnetic resonance pulse sequence featuring a checking module for checking the echo train position for at least two k-space elements are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10042022
    Abstract: In order to provide an improved homogeneity of a primary magnetic field during a magnetic resonance imaging process, a method for magnetic resonance imaging of a subject under examination using a magnetic resonance device includes an acquisition of magnetic resonance image data in a plurality of scanning blocks. Different shim settings are set in each case for the plurality of scanning blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20180210051
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data from multiple slices of a subject, a spin echo sequence is executed wherein a radio frequency (RF) excitation pulse, a refocusing pulse, and a further RF pulse are radiated, together with the application of a number of gradients, in order to acquire MR data from an intersection volume of a selected slice with a further slice. The MR data are entered into at least one k-space line in a memory organized as k-space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Carinci, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 10031202
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquisition of MR data from a slice in a subject, a first slice selection gradient is activated in a first direction perpendicular to the slice, and an RF excitation pulse then selectively excites nuclear spins in the slice. A second slice selection gradient is activated along the first direction, and a refocusing pulse is radiated. A first phase encoding gradient along the first direction is activated, and a second phase encoding gradient is activated along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A selection gradient is activated along a third direction perpendicularly to the first and second directions, during which MR data are acquired from the slice. The acquired MR data are entered into multiple k-space lines that are selected starting from the refocusing pulse, without a further RF pulse being radiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9995807
    Abstract: In a control method and control unit to monitor a data acquisition of magnetic resonance image data of an imaging area located in a measurement volume of a magnetic resonance apparatus, an RF excitation pulse is radiated by an RF transmission/reception device of the magnetic resonance apparatus, raw data are acquired after a time after the radiated excitation pulse, by means of the RF transmission/reception device, and store the raw data, the raw data are transmitted to a monitoring unit and (a) through (c) are repeated while switching different gradients for spatial coding by readout of k-space corresponding to the imaging area along trajectories that are predetermined by the switched gradients, up to a termination criterion that is predetermined by the monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Universitatsklinikum Freiburg
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9989607
    Abstract: In a method to operate a magnetic resonance (MR) system to acquire MR data, an RF excitation pulse is radiated followed by repeated, chronologically sequential implementation of the following steps in order to respectively acquire the MR data of an echo train. A refocusing pulse is radiated, a phase coding gradient is activated, and an additional magnetic field gradient for spatial coding is activated in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of the phase coding gradient in order to read out the MR data of a k-space line. A k-space line in the k-space center is acquired at a predetermined echo time. A first half of k-space is acquired by entering data into k-space lines of the respective echo train, the data being acquired before the echo time. A second half of k-space is acquired by entering data into k-space lines of the respective echo train, this data having been acquired after the echo time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Esther Meyer, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9971005
    Abstract: In a method and a magnetic resonance (MR) system for fat saturation when acquiring MR data in a predetermined volume segment of an examination object (O), a flip angle is determined as a function of a predetermined requirement for a fat signal that is acquired by the magnetic resonance system in the volume segment, and an RF preparation pulse is emitted that has the determined flip angle. This is followed by emission of a SPAIR pulse, followed by acquisition of the MR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20180088199
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for generating a combined MR image of an examination object, a first image data record of an examination object, generated from magnetic resonance data recorded with a first reception coil, is loaded into a computer. A second image data record of the examination object, generated from magnetic resonance data recorded with a second reception coil, wherein the first and the second reception coils are different reception coils, is also loaded into a computer. At least one interim image data record is generated by the computer by applying a mask function to the first and/or second image data record. An interim image data record is combined in the computer with the image data record to which no mask function was applied, or with the other interim image data record, to form a combined MR image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Horger, Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20180081016
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generating magnetic resonance (MR) measurement data of an object, (a) a multiband RF excitation pulse is radiated into the object to simultaneously selectively excite at least two slices, which do not overlap, in the object, and (b) echo signals generated are read out with at least two reception coils and are stored in a measurement data record, and (c) after reading out a last echo signal that follows from the multiband RF excitation pulse, a driven equilibrium module is radiated that includes at least one further multiband RF pulse. Steps (a) to (c) are repeated with different position encoding and/or while exciting different slices, until all desired measurement data are stored in the measurement data record. The measurement data contained in the measurement data record are separated into slice-specific measurement data records on the basis of coil sensitivity data of the reception coils used for read-out purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Carinci, Dominik Paul, Mario Zeller
  • Publication number: 20180074147
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data, an MR data acquisition scanner is operated, while a subject is situated therein to execute a simultaneous multislice (SMS) turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence by implementing a TSE-based reference scan to acquire reference data and an imaging scan, to acquire raw MR data from the subject. The reference data and the raw MR data are entered into a memory organized as k-space. A computer accesses the memory in order to make the k-space data, composed of said reference data and said image data, available in electronic form, as at least one data file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Carinci, Dominik Paul, Himanshu Bhat, Mario Zeller
  • Publication number: 20180074138
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a temporal change in a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance device, as well as an evaluation unit, a magnetic resonance device, and a computer program product for performing the method are provided. The method provides that a position-dependent magnetic field distribution that is produced by the plurality of gradient coils is provided with a plurality of monitoring points. In addition, time-dependent gradient values of the plurality of gradient coils are ascertained. Based on position-dependent magnetic field distribution and the time-dependent gradient values, the temporal change in the magnetic field is ascertained. The temporal change in the magnetic field is monitored by comparing the temporal change in the magnetic field with at least one limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bielmeier, Gerhard Brinker, Swen Campagna, Nikolaus Demharter, Bernd Erbe, Matthias Gebhardt, Helmut Lenz, Jürgen Nistler, Dominik Paul, Carsten Prinz, Gudrun Ruyters, Stephan Stöcker, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 9915715
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of an examination object, a control computer is provided with a designation of a first recording region, which is cuboidal. The computer automatically determines a second recording region that represents an adjustment of the first recording region such that the second recording region is cube-shaped. Magnetic resonance scan data are acquired from the entire second recording region. Magnetic resonance image data are reconstructed from the acquired magnetic resonance scan data. An image region of the magnetic resonance image data is supplied in electronic form from the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uvo Hoelscher, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9891300
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance data acquisition, data are acquired according to a single-slab three-dimensional turbo or fast spin-echo pulse sequence, wherein the inner volume selection in the phase-encoding direction takes place by radiating a pair of adiabatic RF pulses, instead of the single refocusing RF pulse that is conventional. The radiation of the adiabatic RF pulses allows a high RF pulse bandwidth to be achieved, for a given limit on the peak radio-frequency field strength. Such a high RF pulse bandwidth reduces off-resonance-related artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: University of Virginia Patent Foundation, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: John Mugler, Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20180031652
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for the slice-specific adjustment of RF pulses when recording MR signals of an examination subject with the use of a slice multiplexing method in which MR signals from at least two different slices of the examination subject are detected simultaneously when recording the MR signals, has the following steps. The respective position of the slices to be simultaneously detected in the examination subject are determined and designated in a processor. For each slice to be detected simultaneously, monoslice RF pulse parameters are determined in the processor based on the determined position of the respective slice. The monoslice RF pulse parameters are corrected in the processor based on at least one examination subject-specific parameter map, which maps the spatial distribution of a system parameter in the examination subject, and the determined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Mario Zeller
  • Publication number: 20180017654
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for avoiding artifacts in scan data recorded by execution of a spin-echo sequence, an excitation pulse is radiated, at least one refocusing pulse is radiated, and at least one echo signal is read out. Following the radiation of the excitation pulse and before the readout of the at least one echo signal, at least two artifact-avoidance gradients with different amplitudes are activated, wherein the moments of the artifact-avoidance gradients balance each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Mario Zeller