Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Wagenaar

Douglas J. Wagenaar 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).

  • Patent number: 8368029
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, or rodents, that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus within a magnetic field produced by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Publication number: 20120061581
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an imaging system that includes a collimator assembly having two or more pinhole apertures therein. In one embodiment, the imaging system is configured so that two or more of the pinhole apertures have different focal lengths. The imaging system further includes a detector assembly configured to generate one or more signals in response to gamma photons that pass through the two or more pinhole apertures. Additional embodiments also relate to methods of changing collimator performance and methods of imaging a volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: James W. Hugg, Ang Liu, Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Publication number: 20120035465
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, or rodents, that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus within a magnetic field produced by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Patent number: 8071950
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, rodents (especially mice and rats), that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus in close proximity such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Publication number: 20110270078
    Abstract: An multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study that includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and an MRI-compatible single-photon nuclear imaging apparatus imbedded within the RF coil of the MRI system such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study during the imaging session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt, Dirk Meier, James W. Hugg
  • Patent number: 7786444
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving image quality of single photon nuclear imaging systems, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems for imaging of an object under study, such as small objects including small animals of different sizes using synthetic apertures. The methods and systems include processes and instrumentations for high-resolution, high detection efficiency leading to lower image noise and artifact-free synthetic aperture single photon nuclear images, such as SPECT images. Also, the method and systems provide design parameters, hardware settings, and data acquisition processes for optimal imaging of objects having different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt, Benjamin M. W. Tsui
  • Publication number: 20100072377
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, rodents (especially mice and rats), that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus in close proximity such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Patent number: 7629586
    Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, rodents (especially mice and rats), that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus in close proximity such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt
  • Publication number: 20080116386
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving image quality of single photon nuclear imaging systems, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems for imaging of an object under study, such as small objects including small animals of different sizes using synthetic apertures. The methods and systems include processes and instrumentations for high-resolution, high detection efficiency leading to lower image noise and artifact-free synthetic aperture single photon nuclear images, such as SPECT images. Also, the method and systems provide design parameters, hardware settings, and data acquisition processes for optimal imaging of objects having different sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, Bradley E. Patt, Benjamin M.W. Tsui
  • Patent number: 7030384
    Abstract: An adaptive opto-emission imaging device includes a detector having a detector face and a back surface. The detector detects radiation emanating from an object positioned in the direction of the detector face, and produces a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation. An image capturing device such as a video camera provided at the detector face of the detector produces a live visual image of the object. A display device provided at the back surface of the detector displays the radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or the live visual image of the object. The adaptive opto-emission imaging device greatly reduces the amount of computation and time to provide real time image guidance, for example to physicians using the device to perform an image-guided surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell D. Burckhardt, Douglas J. Wagenaar
  • Patent number: 6838672
    Abstract: A radionuclide scanner in which multiple detectors are equipped with collimators such that a circular rotation of the detector around a target provides the movement needed for collimator sampling. This collimator sampling is accomplished through strategic placement of the detector heads relative to each other such that for any given projection, a complete imaging of the projection is acquired by summing the complementary contributions of the multiple detector heads at the projection under consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, John T. Pawlak, John C. Engdahl
  • Publication number: 20040005028
    Abstract: An adaptive opto-emission imaging device includes a detector having a detector face and a back surface. The detector detects radiation emanating from an object positioned in the direction of the detector face, and produces a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation. An image capturing device such as a video camera provided at the detector face of the detector produces a live visual image of the object. A display device provided at the back surface of the detector displays the radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or the live visual image of the object. The adaptive opto-emission imaging device greatly reduces the amount of computation and time to provide real time image guidance, for example to physicians using the device to perform an image-guided surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Darrell D. Burckhardt, Douglas J. Wagenaar
  • Publication number: 20030111610
    Abstract: A radionuclide scanner in which multiple detectors are equipped with collimators such that a circular rotation of the detector around a target provides the movement needed for collimator sampling. This collimator sampling is accomplished through strategic placement of the detector heads relative to each other such that for any given projection, a complete imaging of the projection is acquired by summing the complementary contributions of the multiple detector heads at the projection under consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Wagenaar, John T. Pawlak, John C. Engdahl