Patents by Inventor Erkki T. Vahala

Erkki T. Vahala 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: 11801401
    Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Emil G. Radulescu, Gosta Jakob Ehnholm, Ramon Q. Erkamp, I. A. Julius Koskela, Shunmugavelu D. Sokka, Erkki T. Vahala, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Publication number: 20220395709
    Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Emil G. Radulescu, Gosta Jakob Ehnholm, Ramon Q. Erkamp, I.A. Julius Koskela, Shunmugavelu D. Sokka, Erkki T. Vahala, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Publication number: 20180361174
    Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Emil G. Radulescu, Gosta Jakob Ehnholm, Ramon Q. Erkamp, I.A. Julius Koskela, Shunmugavelu D. Sokka, Erkki T. Vahala, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Patent number: 10058717
    Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Emil G. Radulescu, Gosta Jakob Ehnholm, Ramon Q. Erkamp, I. A. Julius Koskela, Shunmugavelu D. Sokka, Erkki T. Vahala, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Publication number: 20130035582
    Abstract: When planning magnetic resonance (MR) guided high intensity focused ultrasonic (HIFU) therapy, HIFU transducer element parameters are optimized as a function of 3D MR data describing a size, shape, and position of a region of interest (ROI) (146) and any obstructions (144) between the HIFU transducer elements and the ROI (146). Transducer element phases and amplitudes are adjusted to maximize HIFU radiation delivery to the ROI (146) while minimizing delivery to the obstruction (144). Additionally or alternatively, transducer elements are selectively deactivated if the obstruction (144) is positioned between the ROI (146) and a given transducer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Emil G. Radulescu, Gosta Jakob Ehnholm, Ramon Q. Erkamp, I. A. Julius Koskela, Shunmugavelu D. Sokka, Erkki T. Vahala, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Patent number: 6975896
    Abstract: Fiducials (50) are disposed in an imaging region (14) along with a subject. The fiducials are mounted either to the subject itself, a surgical tool (52), an imaging probe or receive coil (80), or the like. The fiducials are filled with a liquid or gel of a fluorine 19 (Fl19) compound which has a resonance frequency that is only 6% off from the resonance frequency of protons. This enables a common transmitter (22), transmit and receive coils, and receiver (34) to be utilized for both proton and fluorine 19 imaging. The proton and fluorine resonance signals are separately reconstructed into corresponding image memories (42, 64). From the positions of the fiducials, a position calculator (66) determines the position of a fiducial carrying surgical tool or probe relative to the proton image. A depiction of the tool or probe from a look-up table (70) is appropriately positioned and rotated (68) and superimposed on the proton image by a video processor (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Gösta J. Ehnholm, Erkki T. Vahala, Mika P. Ylihautala
  • Publication number: 20030220559
    Abstract: Fiducials (50) are disposed in an imaging region (14) along with a subject. The fiducials are mounted either to the subject itself, a surgical tool (52), an imaging probe or receive coil (80), or the like. The fiducials are filled with a liquid or gel of a fluorine 19 (Fl19) compound which has a resonance frequency that is only 6% off from the resonance frequency of protons. This enables a common transmitter (22), transmit and receive coils, and receiver (34) to be utilized for both proton and fluorine 19 imaging. The proton and fluorine resonance signals are separately reconstructed into corresponding image memories (42, 64). From the positions of the fiducials, a position calculator (66) determines the position of a fiducial carrying surgical tool or probe relative to the proton image. A depiction of the tool or probe from a look-up table (70) is appropriately positioned and rotated (68) and superimposed on the proton image by a video processor (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Gosta J. Ehnholm, Erkki T. Vahala, Mika P. Ylihautala
  • Patent number: 5882304
    Abstract: A magnetic probe (1) for use with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises an electron spin resonance (ESR) magnetometer. The position of the probe (1) tracked by measuring the resonant frequency of an ESR sample (32) in the probe. The resonant frequency is measured in the presence of a gradient sequence which employs three orthogonal, linear gradients. By determining the resonant frequency of the ESR sample in the presence of each of the gradients, the position of the probe can be determined. The probe may be placed on or in an object, and the position of the probe may be displayed on a desired magnetic resonance image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Picker Nordstar Corporation
    Inventors: Gosta J. Ehnholm, Erkki T. Vahala