Patents by Inventor Eckhard Hempel

Eckhard Hempel 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: 20100091936
    Abstract: An x-ray CT system for x-ray phase contrast and/or x-ray dark field imaging has a grating interferometer that has a first grating structure that has a number of band-shaped x-ray emission maxima and minima arranged in parallel, the maxima and minima exhibiting a first grating period, a second band-shaped grating structure that produces, as a phase grating, a partial phase offset of x-ray radiation passing therethrough and that exhibits a second grating period, a third band-shaped grating structure with a third grating period with which relative phase shifts of adjacent x-rays and/or their scatter components are detected, and a device for value-based determination of the phase between adjacent x-rays and/or for value-based determination of the spatial intensity curve per detector element perpendicular to the bands of the grating structures. The third grating structure has a grating period that is larger by a factor of 2 to 5 than the grating period of the first grating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Christian David, Tilman Donath, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu
  • Publication number: 20100080341
    Abstract: An x-ray CT system that generates tomographic phase contrast or dark field exposures, has at least one grating interferometer with three grating structures arranged in series in the radiation direction, with a modular design of the second and third grating structures. The distance between the first grating structure of the x-ray source and the second grating structure (fashioned as a phase grating) of the respective grating/detector modules is adapted, depending on the fan angle, corresponding to a period of the grating structure of the x-ray source projected onto the grating detector module at a respective fan angle (?i).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Christian David, Tilman Donath, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7653177
    Abstract: A method and a measurement system are disclosed for the noninvasive determination of properties of an object to be examined and to the use of a contrast medium for X-ray phase-contrast measurement. in at least one embodiment of the invention, a mixture (suspension) consisting of a base liquid and a multiplicity of particles contained therein is used, the refractive index of the base liquid being different to the refractive index of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jörg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Matthias Honal, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Patent number: 7648498
    Abstract: An irradiation device for irradiating a living organism with electromagnetic radiation in order to influence biological structures inside the organism has a frequency generator that has a frequency synthesizer for the production of electromagnetic radiation having a defined frequency pattern, and a transmission antenna that is fashioned such that during operation the electromagnetic radiation is emitted essentially into a particular radiation volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 7646843
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing projective and tomographic phase contrast images of an examination object, preferably a patient, with the aid of an X-ray system, and a corresponding X-ray system for carrying out this method. In at least one embodiment of the method, X-ray optical grating sets tuned to different energy ranges are used to determine energy-dependent phase shifts upon penetration of an examination object, a difference value is formed from these energy-dependent phase shifts, and tomographic or projective images are produced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Björn Heismann, Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 7639786
    Abstract: An X-ray optical transmission grating of a focus-detector arrangement of an X-ray apparatus is disclosed, for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings of a subject. In at least one embodiment, the grating includes a multiplicity of grating bars and grating gaps arranged periodically on at least one surface of at least one wafer, wherein the X-ray optical transmission grating includes at least two sub-gratings arranged in direct succession in the beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jörg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Patent number: 7564941
    Abstract: A focus-detector arrangement of an X-ray apparatus is disclosed for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings with a phase grating. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, in the gaps between its bars, the phase grating includes a filler material whose linear attenuation coefficient in the relevant energy range is greater than that of the bars. The height of the filler material in the gaps is dimensioned on the one hand so that the X-radiation with the energy used for measuring the phase shift generates a phase shift in the X-radiation such that, after the phase grating, the rays which pass through the bars are phase shifted by one half wavelength relative to the rays which pass through the gaps with the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jörg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Patent number: 7561658
    Abstract: A method and an x-ray computed tomography system are disclosed for visualizing at least two different types of cardiac tissue, such as normally perfused tissue, hypoperfused tissue and scarred tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Stefan Popescu, Rainer Raupach
  • Publication number: 20090154640
    Abstract: In a focus detector arrangement and method for an x-ray apparatus for generating projection or tomographic phase-contrast images of an examination subject, a beam of coherent x-rays is generated by an anode that has areas of different radiation emission characteristics arranged in bands thereon, that proceed parallel to grid lines of a phase grid that is used to generate the phase-contrast images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jorg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Patent number: 7535986
    Abstract: A method and a CT system are disclosed for detecting and differentiating plaque in vessel structures of a patient. In at least one embodiment, a computed tomography system that is equipped with at least one focus detector system and, per focus detector system, with at least one transradiated x-ray/optical grating, is used to reconstruct the spatial distribution of the refractive index in the region of vessel structures of the patient from detected projection data. Further, at least one plaque form is highlighted in a pictorial display on the basis of a previously known value range of the refractive index for at least one plaque form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 7532704
    Abstract: An X-ray CT system is disclosed for producing tomographic phase contrast and absorption images. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a gantry, including a stationary stator and a first rotor supported on the stator and rotates relative to the stator about a system axis, at least one X-ray source detector system that can rotate about a patient and a system axis and is arranged on the first rotor, and at least one set of X-ray optical gratings for determining phase contrast. According to at least one embodiment, the at least one set of X-ray optical gratings is arranged such that it can be displaced relative to the first rotor of the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 7522698
    Abstract: A focus/detector system of an X-ray apparatus is disclosed, for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings. The system, in at least one embodiment, includes at least of a beam source, having a focus and a focus-side source grating, arranged in the beam path and to generate a field of ray-wise coherent X-rays, and a detector arrangement having a multiplicity of grating/detector modules arranged next to one another. The detector arrangement, in at least one embodiment, which respectively include, arranged successively in the beam direction, at least one phase grating for generating a first interference pattern, an analysis grating for generating a further interference pattern, and detector elements arranged flat. The individual grating lines of all gratings are aligned mutually parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Björn Heismann, Eckhard Hempel
  • Patent number: 7522708
    Abstract: A focus/detector system of an X-ray apparatus is disclosed for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a beam source, including a focus and a focus-side source grating, arranged in the beam path to generate a field of ray-wise coherent X-rays; and a grating/detector arrangement having a phase grating with grating lines arranged parallel to the source grating for generating an interference pattern and a detector having a multiplicity of detector elements arranged flat for measuring the radiation intensity behind the phase grating. Further, the detector elements are formed by a multiplicity of elongate detection strips, which are aligned parallel to the grating lines of the phase grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Björn Heismann, Eckhard Hempel, Stefan Popescu
  • Publication number: 20090074139
    Abstract: A method and an x-ray system are disclosed for detecting and localizing a metabolic marker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Stefan Popescu, Rainer Raupach
  • Publication number: 20090052614
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for marking and visualizing an implant by use of an x-ray phase-contrast tomography examination. Further, an implant is also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, implants are used with specific characteristics which are as unambiguous as possible with regard to the phase shift generated by the implants in a phase-contrast tomography examination. In at least one embodiment, these specific characteristics can include the typical self-generated specific phase shift, typical differences in the specific phase-shift values, or typical spatial structures of materials with well-defined phase-shift values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Stefan Popescu, Rainer Raupach
  • Publication number: 20090052611
    Abstract: A method and an x-ray computed tomography system are disclosed for visualizing at least two different types of cardiac tissue, such as normally perfused tissue, hypoperfused tissue and scarred tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Stefan Popescu, Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 7492871
    Abstract: A focus/detector system of an X-ray apparatus and a method for generating projective or tomographic phase contrast recordings, are disclosed. In an embodiment of the system, the system includes a beam source equipped with a focus and a focus-side source grating, arranged in the beam path and generates a field of ray-wise coherent X-rays, a grating/detector arrangement having a phase grating and grating lines arranged parallel to the source grating for generating an interference pattern, and a detector having a multiplicity of detector elements arranged flat for measuring the position-dependent radiation intensity behind the phase grating. Finally, the detector elements are formed by a multiplicity of elongate scintillation strips, which are aligned parallel to the grating lines of the phase grating and have a small period, whose integer multiple corresponds to the average large period of the interference pattern which is formed by the phase grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Björn Heismann, Eckhard Hempel, Christian David, Franz Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7486770
    Abstract: A focus-detector arrangement includes a radiation source with a focus, arranged on a first side of the subject, for generating a fan-shaped or conical beam of rays; at least one X-ray optical grating arranged in the beam path, with at least one phase grating arranged on the opposite second side of the subject in the beam path generating an interference pattern of the X-radiation preferably, in a particular energy range; and an analysis-detector system which detects at least the interference pattern generated by the phase grating in respect of its phase shift with position resolution. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, at least one X-ray optical grating including bars which are free from overhangs form shadows in the beam path of the fan-shaped or conical beam of rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jorg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Publication number: 20090003526
    Abstract: A method and a measurement system are disclosed for the noninvasive determination of properties of an object to be examined and to the use of a contrast medium for X-ray phase-contrast measurement. in at least one embodiment of the invention, a mixture (suspension) consisting of a base liquid and a multiplicity of particles contained therein is used, the refractive index of the base liquid being different to the refractive index of the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Joachim Baumann, Christian David, Martin Engelhardt, Jorg Freudenberger, Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Matthias Honal, Thomas Mertelmeier, Franz Pfeiffer, Stefan Popescu, Manfred Schuster
  • Publication number: 20080317213
    Abstract: An x-ray absorption grid produced by a lithography method for use in a phase-contrast CT system has at least two individual grids arranged atop one another in the radiation direction. Each individual grid has a grid area with a grid structure including grid webs and grid gaps in alternation. Each individual grid has a region outside of the grid area (outer region). The outer region of the at least two individual grids has toothed structures corresponding to one another at least two points. The toothed structures are generated as well in the production of the grid structure. The toothed structures have a position that is defined relative to the grid structure, such that a defined alignment of the individual grids occurs given a combination of the individual grids by engagement of the toothed structures of individual grids lying atop one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Eckhard Hempel, Martin Hoheisel, Stefan Popescu