Patents by Inventor Ernst Peter Rührnschopf

Ernst Peter Rührnschopf 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: 9131910
    Abstract: 3D reconstructions can be calculated from grayscale X-ray images taken at different angular positions of an X-ray source and detector rotatable about a common axis. In the present case, X-ray radiation is applied to the object to be imaged such that one half of the X-ray detector receives radiation which differs in one characteristic from the radiation received by the second half of the detector via the object. A kind of dual-energy imaging can then be carried out in a single pass through the angular positions, enabling two 3D reconstructions to be generated simultaneously and then merged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Frank Dennerlein, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 8885908
    Abstract: A method for acquiring a 3D image dataset for an image object based on a plurality of 2D image datasets relating to the image object is proposed. A scattered radiation is taken into account in an acquisition operator used in the method for the optimum reconstruction of the 3D image dataset. The acquisition operator should be as close as possible to the real mapping operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Klingenbeck, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Publication number: 20130004051
    Abstract: A method for acquiring a 3D image dataset for an image object based on a plurality of 2D image datasets relating to the image object is proposed. A scattered radiation is taken into account in an acquisition operator used in the method for the optimum reconstruction of the 3D image dataset. The acquisition operator should be as close as possible to the real mapping operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Klaus Klingenbeck, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Publication number: 20120140875
    Abstract: 3D reconstructions can be calculated from grayscale X-ray images taken at different angular positions of an X-ray source and detector rotatable about a common axis. In the present case, X-ray radiation is applied to the object to be imaged such that one half of the X-ray detector receives radiation which differs in one characteristic from the radiation received by the second half of the detector via the object. A kind of dual-energy imaging can then be carried out in a single pass through the angular positions, enabling two 3D reconstructions to be generated simultaneously and then merged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Dennerlein, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 8150131
    Abstract: In a computer tomography method an object region of the object being examined is determined in that projection beams that are linked with maximum attenuation are sought in cropped projection images. A central point of the object region is then determined and the object sections associated with the projection beams plotted on the central point. The object region can be at least approximately determined using the end points of the object sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Härer, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Patent number: 8121372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing image noise in the context of capturing at least one radiation-based image of a region of interest using two different radiation spectra, in particular two different x-ray radiation spectra, comprising the following steps: capturing raw images of the region of interest using the two different radiation spectra with in each case mutually paired measured values; and to separate different materials in the region of interest, applying to the captured raw images at least one inversion operator with integrated noise filtering, said operator describing a transition from a measured value pair to an assigned reconstruction value pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Härer, Dr. Klaus Klingenbeck-Regn, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 8045774
    Abstract: A method for creating material-selective volume images of various material components of an object to be examined is proposed. The method is based on multi-spectral projected images captured from various directions of projection, the images being captured using an X-ray machine, and makes it possible to quantitively exactly determine the material-selective volume images by way of iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Härer, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Patent number: 8041096
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating scatter-corrected mass density image in dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mass density image is created using additional information provided by attenuation images at different energy levels in an inhomogeneous correction image area. A multi-dimensional mass density is found that is consistent for a plurality of the attenuation images by inverting a primary radiation function. A scatter fraction is determined on the basis of the multi-dimensional mass density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Bernhardt, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 7916829
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography method. The airgap associated with a projection direction is determined by determining, in the projection images, edge pixels which map object edges on a detector. By back-projecting the edge pixels in an object image space it is possible to determine an envelope polygon for an outline contour of the examination object. The width of the airgap associated with a specific projection direction can then be determined on the basis of the envelope polygon. Exact knowledge of the current airgap serves to improve the scattered radiation correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Härer, Alois Nöttling, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 7860208
    Abstract: In a method for correction of scatter radiation errors in radiography and computer tomography, using flat panel detectors, initially an estimation of a scatter radiation distribution Scor(y,z) is undertaken, and a standard correction term ?pcor is subsequently calculated. Noise filtering of the standard correction term ?pcor with F(?pcor) is implemented and subsequently the noise-filtered standard correction term F(?pcor) is added to the logarithmized measured total projection data ps. The noise filtering can be implemented adaptively dependent on a previously-determined local noise variance. The method can be implemented in a radiography system and/or by a computer for generation and/or processing of projective and/or tomographic exposures, with a memory containing program codes causing the computer in operation to execute the steps of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Haerer, Ernst-Peter Ruehrnschopf
  • Patent number: 7856134
    Abstract: A method for generating image data relating to a virtually prescribable X-ray tube voltage U3 from first and second dual energy CT image data is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Martin Sedlmair, Karl Stierstorfer
  • Patent number: 7822172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for beam hardening correction in medical image. Beam hardening within the context of medical imaging projection image profiles are split up into a basic profile which is assigned to a homogeneous object area and into a detailed profile which is assigned to an inhomogeneous object area. On the basis of the basic profile and of the difference profile the mass occupancy of the different components in the object to be examined can be approximately determined. On the basis of the approximately determined mass occupancy the correction of the beam hardening can then be performed directly on the projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Publication number: 20100246918
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reconstruction of image data of an object under examination from measurement data, with the measurement data having been recorded during a rotating movement of a radiation source of a computed tomography system around the object under examination. The radiation source emits focal and extra-focal radiation. In at least one embodiment of the method, the image data is determined from the measurement data by use of an iterative algorithm. A variable is used in the iterative algorithm which contains a distribution of the extra-focal radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Steffen Kappler, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz, Karl Stierstorfer
  • Patent number: 7801266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for speeding up the scattered radiation correction in a computed tomography system with a radiation source and a detector constructed in large-area format with a number of rows of detectors, by which an object is scanned from numerous projection angles, uses the measured values for the attenuation of the radiation in generating projection data which is postprocessed for the purpose of reconstructing tomographic views, in doing which a beam hardening correction is applied directly to the projection data, whereby according to the invention the scattered radiation correction is also applied directly to the projection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alois Nöttling, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Patent number: 7782996
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for combined bone hardening and scattered radiation correction in X-ray computed tomography of a heterogeneous object with a CT system comprising an X-ray source moved around an object, a flat detector with a large number of distributed detector elements which detect measuring beams from a focal point of the X-ray tube, and a control and arithmetic-logic unit—by iterative reconstruction and segmented vectorial reprojection calculation, wherein a scattered radiation correction and a radiation hardening correction are carried out in each iteration cycle for at least two different material components of the object being examined. The invention also relates to an X-ray CT system for carrying out this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz
  • Patent number: 7760855
    Abstract: For scattered radiation correction in dual X-ray absorptiometry it is proposed to use the additional information supplied by the attenuation images in different energy ranges in a correction image area with homogeneous attenuation coefficients in order to determine the respective scattered radiation fraction. Toward that end, the inverse of the primary radiation function is considered and a search conducted for that scatter-to-primary ratio which leads to consistent mass per unit areas for the attenuation images recorded in different energy ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Philipp Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 7751525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting x-ray scatter in projection radiography or in x-ray computer tomography, in which, for different observed objects, different scatter-correction convolution cores G are determined and in the examination of the respective objects object-specific scatter-correction convolution cores are applied to detector data which is created during the x-raying of these objects. The invention also relates to a projection radiography or x-ray computer tomography system which features programs in a processing system which executes the method described above when the system is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf
  • Patent number: 7734009
    Abstract: The invention relates to an angiographic x-ray diagnostic device for rotation angiography with an x-ray emitter which can be moved on a circular path about a patient located on a patient support table, with an image detector unit which can moved on the circular path facing the x-ray emitter, with a digital image system for recording a plurality of projection images by means of rotation angiography, with a device for image processing, by means of which the projection images are reconstructed into a 3D volume image, and with a device for correcting physical effects and/or inadequacies in the recording system such as truncation correction, scatter correction, ring artifact correction, correction of the beam hardening and/or of the low frequency drop for the soft tissue display of projection images and the 3D volume images resulting therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Brunner, Klaus Klingenbeck-Regn, Michael Maschke, Alois Nöttling, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Bernhard Scholz, Bernd Schreiber, Norbert Karl Strobel, Karl Wiesent, Michael Zellerhoff
  • Patent number: 7711083
    Abstract: To enable an artifact free reconstruction even in the case of large regions of interest and with scanning paths of below 360°, provision is made for a method, with which a three-dimensional image volume is reconstructed from a number of two-dimensional projection images of a region of interest, which were recorded about the region of interest during a rotation of a recording system, comprising an x-ray source with a focal point and a detector, by calculating the gray scale values of the voxels of the image volume by back projection of the projection images, with which each two-dimensional projection images is composed in each instance from at least two individual projection images to form an extended two-dimensional projection image, with the respectively at least two individual projection images being recorded with a constant relative position between the focal point and the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benno Heigl, Stefan Hoppe, Joachim Hornegger, Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Holger Scherl, Bernhard Scholz, Michael Zellerhoff
  • Publication number: 20100014737
    Abstract: A method for generating image data relating to a virtually prescribable X-ray tube voltage U3 from first and second dual energy CT image data is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Ernst-Peter Rührnschopf, Martin Sedlmair, Karl Stierstorfer