Patents by Inventor Erkki Tapani Vahala

Erkki Tapani 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: 11432735
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging guided radiation therapy apparatus (100) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (106). The method comprises: acquiring magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system from an organ (146), the organ being marked by a predefined marker; the magnetic resonance data comprising 3D image data; identifying in a reconstructed 2D image of the magnetic resonance data at least one signal void candidate of the marker; processing the 3D image data and the identified signal void for calculating a likelihood that the identified signal void candidate is part of the marker; outputting an indication of the calculated likelihood; in response to the outputting, receiving a user input specifying performing a radio therapy; and controlling the irradiation of the organ using the radiation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Teuvo Juhani Vaara, Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Patent number: 11298567
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve quality assurance when using MRI images for radiotherapy treatment planning. This object is achieved by a treatment plan evaluation tool A configured for calculating a quality indicator for a radiotherapy treatment plan. The radiotherapy treatment plan originates from a planning image, wherein the planning image is an MRI image acquired under a presence of a main magnetic field having a magnetic field inhomogeneity. The treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to receive information about the magnetic field inhomogeneity and the treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to calculate the quality indicator based on the information about the magnetic field homogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Lizette Warner, Kumar Raja Gattamaneni
  • Publication number: 20210358119
    Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (100, 300) comprising a memory (110) storing machine executable instructions (120) and an image transformation neural network (122) trained for transforming an optical image (124) of a subject (318) into an output image (126). The output image comprises a pseudo radiographic image (600). The pseudo radiographic image is aligned with the optical image. The medical instrument further comprises a processor (104) configured for controlling the medical imaging Nsystem. Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: receive (200) the optical image of the subject and generate (202) the output image by inputting the optical image into the image transformation neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA
  • Patent number: 11160608
    Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (700, 800) comprising: a first display device (200), a second display device (754), a database (768), and a processor (746). Execution of instructions cause the processor to: receive (900) a medical image (102, 102?, 102?, 102??); display (902) the medical image in a physician graphical user (202, 1000) interface using the first display device and on a technician graphical user interface (100, 1000) using the second display device. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to repeatedly: receive (906) planning data (764) from the physician graphical user interface, display (908) the planning data on the technician graphical user interface; receive (910) treatment plan data (766) from the technician graphical user interface; store (912) the treatment plan data in the database; and generate (914) control data (770, 772) for controlling a treatment system using the treatment plan data in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Jari Matti Ilmari Salminen
  • Patent number: 10974070
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve the radiotherapy workflow. This object is achieved by a medical product configured to be used for image based radiotherapy planning. The medical product is configured to be connected to: —a medical imaging system configured for acquiring medical images of a patient; —a contour module configured for segmenting one or more contours based on one or more of the medical images and; —a treatment planning system configured for calculating a radiotherapy plan based on the one or more contours. The medical product comprises a user interface configured to receive user input on a treatment target in the patient and to receive user input on a treatment technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Kumar Raja Gattamaneni
  • Patent number: 10946218
    Abstract: A method for controlling a medical apparatus (100) includes receiving a treatment plan (168) specifying a target volume (146) within an imaging volume (138) and a dose rate of radiation emitted by a radiotherapy apparatus (102). The medical apparatus (100) repeatedly acquires the motion tracking magnetic resonance data and the image magnetic resonance data using an interleaved pulse sequence. The radiotherapy apparatus (102) is controlled to radiate the target volume (146) in accordance with the treatment plan (168). A dose distribution map descriptive of a radiation dose received by the subject (144) from the radiotherapy apparatus (102) is calculated using the motion tracking magnetic resonance data, and the treatment plan (168). A diagnostic image is reconstructed using the image magnetic resonance data. A display displays the diagnostic image and the dose distribution map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLUKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Publication number: 20200054234
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging guided radiation therapy apparatus (100) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (106). The method comprises: acquiring magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system from an organ (146), the organ being marked by a predefined marker; the magnetic resonance data comprising 3D image data; identifying in a reconstructed 2D image of the magnetic resonance data at least one signal void candidate of the marker; processing the 3D image data and the identified signal void for calculating a likelihood that the identified signal void candidate is part of the marker; outputting an indication of the calculated likelihood; in response to the outputting, receiving a user input specifying performing a radio therapy; and controlling the irradiation of the organ using the radiation therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: TEUVO JUHANI VAARA, ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA
  • Patent number: 10518108
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a therapy system (100) comprising a radiotherapy device (102) configured to deliver and direct a radiotherapy beam along an axis to a predefined target position (117) in an imagine zone (138, 146) within an MR module (106) of the therapy system (100). The predefined target position (117) is matched with a position of an RF coil (140) of the MR module (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Wycliffe Adell Raduma, Tero Jouko Valtter Virta, Annemaria Johanna Halkola
  • Patent number: 10459043
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500) comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound system (322) configured for sonicating a target volume (340) of a subject (318). The medical apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (302) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (356, 358, 360, 368, 374) from an imaging zone (308). The treatment volume is within the imaging zone. The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (352) containing machine executable, a control module (382, 402) for controlling the sonication of the target volume using the magnetic resonance data as a control parameter, and a processor (346). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to repeatedly acquire (102, 202) magnetic resonance data in real time using the magnetic resonance imaging system and control (104, 206) sonication of the target volume by the high intensity focused ultrasound system in real time using the sonication control module and the magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Publication number: 20190298215
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic imaging system (100), comprising a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) for providing an image representation of at least a portion of a subject of interest (120) positioned in an examination space (116), a hyperthermia device (111) for locally heating a target zone within the portion of the subject of interest (120), and a control unit (126) for controlling the MR imaging system (110) and the hyperthermia device (111), wherein the diagnostic imaging system (100) is adapted to provide a diagnostic image representation of the portion of the subject of interest (120) by correlating image representations obtained at different temperatures of the target zone, wherein the diagnostic image representation comprises information on temperature dependent changes of the metabolism of the subject of interest (120).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA
  • Patent number: 10376716
    Abstract: Prior to the radiotherapy, an MR guided radiotherapy device acquires MR data and tracks structures relevant to the radiotherapy treatment. These MR data are displayed to a user. Furthermore, these data are used to calculate a quality factor for the treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Publication number: 20190209862
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve the radiotherapy workflow. This object is achieved by a medical product configured to be used for image based radiotherapy planning. The medical product is configured to be connected to:—a medical imaging system configured for acquiring medical images of a patient;—a contour module configured for segmenting one or more contours based on one or more of the medical images and;—a treatment planning system configured for calculating a radiotherapy plan based on the one or more contours. The medical product comprises a user interface configured to receive user input on a treatment target in the patient and to receive user input on a treatment technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA, KUMAR RAJA GATTAMANENI
  • Patent number: 10307616
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (100, 300, 400, 800) includes a magnetic resonance imaging system (104), a radiation therapy device (102) having a gantry (106) and a radiation source (110). A radiation detection system (102) measures radiation detection data (174) descriptive of a path and intensity of a radiation beam at an intersection of the radiation beam with at least one surface (144, 144?, 144?) surrounding the subject using at least one radiation detector (144, 144?, 144?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips, N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 10282064
    Abstract: The invention provides for medical instrument (200, 300) comprising a medical imaging system (202, 302) for acquiring medical image data (236) from an imaging zone (204) and a treatment system (206, 322) for depositing energy into a treatment zone (208). A processor executing instructions receives (100) a selection of a reference location and one or more anatomical references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Mika Petri Ylihautala, Melanie Suzanne Kotys
  • Publication number: 20190126072
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve quality assurance when using MRI images for radiotherapy treatment planning. This object is achieved by a treatment plan evaluation tool A configured for calculating a quality indicator for a radiotherapy treatment plan. The radiotherapy treatment plan originates from a planning image, wherein the planning image is an MRI image acquired under a presence of a main magnetic field having a magnetic field inhomogeneity. The treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to receive information about the magnetic field inhomogeneity and the treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to calculate the quality indicator based on the information about the magnetic field homogeneity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA, LIZETTE WARNER, KUMAR RAJA GATTAMANENI
  • Patent number: 10272270
    Abstract: A method of using a medical instrument (300, 400) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (302). The MRI system acquires (100, 202) first magnetic resonance data (342) and reconstructs (102, 204) a first magnetic resonance image (344, 502). A registration (352) of multiple graphical objects (346, 510, 512) to the first magnetic resonance image is received which defines spatial positions of the multiple graphical objects in the first magnetic resonance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Patent number: 10265016
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system (100) includes a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) for providing an image representation of at least a portion of a subject of interest (120), a hyperthermia device (111) for locally heating a target zone within the portion of the subject of interest (120), and one or more processors for controlling the MR imaging system (110) and the hyperthermia device (111). Correlating image representations obtained at different temperatures of the target zone provides information on temperature dependent changes of the metabolism of the subject of interest (120). A treatment module (146) applies a treatment to the subject of interest (120) for destroying cells within the target zone. The one or more processors control the treatment module (146) for applying the treatment based on diagnostic image representations obtained by the diagnostic imaging system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Publication number: 20190059784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an MR imaging system (10) with regard to positioning a subject of interest (20) to be imaged comprises steps of: —conducting (64) an MR scan, —displaying (66) at least one MR image obtained from the MR scan on a graphical user interface (28), and —displaying (68) at least one information (54, 56) in the at least one MR image indicating a position relative to the examination space (16). The invention further relates to an MR imaging system and a computer program implementing said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: ERKKI TAPANI VAHALA
  • Patent number: 9993196
    Abstract: An apparatus (500, 600) comprising an ultrasound transducer element (300) for generating an ultrasonic beam (302) through a target zone (308, 538). The ultrasonic beam has an ultrasound frequency. The apparatus comprises a magnetic resonance system (502) with a resonant frequency modulator (542, 544, 516) for modulating a magnetic resonance frequency relative to a magnetic resonance of molecules in the target zone at the ultrasound frequency. Instructions cause a processor to repeatedly generate (100, 204) first gradient commands (562) which cause a magnetic field gradient coil to generate a first gradient magnetic field (710, 810) through the target zone. The gradient magnetic field has field lines directed in a first direction (304). The processor repeatedly modulates (102, 206) the magnetic resonance frequency at the ultrasound frequency, generates (104, 208) ultrasound commands (566), acquires (106, 210) magnetic resonance data from the target zone, and generates (108, 212) second gradient commands (564).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Patent number: 9977104
    Abstract: Location data indicative of the location of a target volume (146) is received. A positioning system (224) rotates a therapy device including an energy-delivering device about a longitudinal axis. The energy-delivering device delivers energy to the target volume (146) at a first rotation position using the location data: A magnetic resonance imaging scanner (106) acquires first magnetic resonance data from a first set of slice planes (509) and a second set of slice planes (501, 505, 507) of the target volume (146) at least one second rotation position of the therapy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala