Patents by Inventor Francois S. Nicolas

Francois S. Nicolas 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: 7139417
    Abstract: The present technique involves remote processing and comparison of medical diagnostic images obtained over a period of time. A remote processing system is provided to match and subtract the medical diagnostic images, which may be received from users and gathered from remote image storage systems. Users are able to interact with the remote processing system through uniform interfaces, which may be disposed at medical institutions to provide platform independent interaction with, and remote processing by, the remote processing system. The technique also uses compression routines to facilitate network transfers of images between the uniform interface and the remote processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Francois S. Nicolas, Vianney P. Battle, Kenneth S. Kump, Christopher D. Unger
  • Patent number: 7122802
    Abstract: A technique is provided for improving performance of a digital detector system, such as in a digital X-ray system. Improved frame rates and enhanced resolutions are achieved by selecting a field of view of interest and processing pixel information only for the selected field of view. Data from a series of rows of the detector are simultaneously processed by restoring charge to pixels of a row, while digitizing signals from a previously recharged row, and transmitting digital signals for a third row for which the signals were previously digitized. Scrubbing of rows outside the selected field of view may be performed as signals are detected and processes for rows within the selected field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Scott W. Petrick, Scott A. Bielski, Alan D. Blomeyer, Francois S. Nicolas
  • Patent number: 7068826
    Abstract: The present technique provides a variety of processing schemes for decomposing soft tissue and bone images more accurately from low and high-energy images acquired from an imaging system, such as a dual-energy digital radiography system using flat-panel technology. In particular, a parameter selection process is provided for automatically computing the decomposition parameters WS and WB to create soft tissue and bone images, respectively. The parameter selection process modifies a default decomposition parameter based on a variety of image and technique variables, such as intensity levels of the low and high-energy images, the patient size, and the collimator filtration setting. The parameter selection process avoids robustness problems associated with image-based algorithms, and the process may operate without any direct user interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kadri N. Jabri, Gopal B. Avinash, John M. Sabol, Francois S. Nicolas, Renuka Uppaluri, Mohamed A. Hamadeh
  • Patent number: 6795526
    Abstract: A method and system for of defining, or identifying, regions of interest for exposure management in a digital x-ray imaging system, and especially in the case of multiple consecutive image acquisitions. According to the most basic embodiment of the present invention, simple geometric shapes arranged in a matrix configuration are used to aid an operator in identifying a region of interest for a diagnostic x-ray image. Each region of interest is selectable from a low-dose preshot image and may be corrected, or processed, in order to enhance the results of a subsequent diagnostic image. The processing of the preshot image allows the system to automatically make predictions for the diagnostic image exposure requirements, thereby avoiding unnecessary multiple images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co., LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Kump, Francois S. Nicolas, Christopher D. Unger, Matthew J. Walker
  • Publication number: 20030197800
    Abstract: A technique is provided for improving performance of a digital detector system, such as in a digital X-ray system. Improved frame rates and enhanced resolutions are achieved by selecting a field of view of interest and processing pixel information only for the selected field of view. Data from a series of rows of the detector are simultaneously processed by restoring charge to pixels of a row, while digitizing signals from a previously recharged row, and transmitting digital signals for a third row for which the signals were previously digitized. Scrubbing of rows outside the selected field of view may be performed as signals are detected and processes for rows within the selected field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Scott W. Petrick, Scott A. Bielski, Alan D. Blomeyer, Francois S. Nicolas
  • Publication number: 20030165216
    Abstract: A method and system for of defining, or identifying, regions of interest for exposure management in a digital x-ray imaging system, and especially in the case of multiple consecutive image acquisitions. According to the most basic embodiment of the present invention, simple geometric shapes arranged in a matrix configuration are used to aid an operator in identifying a region of interest for a diagnostic x-ray image. Each region of interest is selectable from a low-dose preshot image and may be corrected, or processed, in order to enhance the results of a subsequent diagnostic image. The processing of the preshot image allows the system to automatically make predictions for the diagnostic image exposure requirements, thereby avoiding unnecessary multiple images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Matthew J. Walker, Kenneth S. Kump, Francois S. Nicolas, Christopher D. Unger
  • Publication number: 20030152258
    Abstract: The present technique provides a variety of processing schemes for decomposing soft tissue and bone images more accurately from low and high-energy images acquired from an imaging system, such as a dual-energy digital radiography system using flat-panel technology. In particular, a parameter selection process is provided for automatically computing the decomposition parameters WS and WB to create soft tissue and bone images, respectively. The parameter selection process modifies a default decomposition parameter based on a variety of image and technique variables, such as intensity levels of the low and high-energy images, the patient size, and the collimator filtration setting. The parameter selection process avoids robustness problems associated with image-based algorithms, and the process may operate without any direct user interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Kadri N. Jabri, Gopal B. Avinash, John M. Sabol, Francois S. Nicolas, Renuka Uppaluri, Mohamed A. Hamadeh
  • Publication number: 20030035584
    Abstract: The present technique involves remote processing and comparison of medical diagnostic images obtained over a period of time. A remote processing system is provided to match and subtract the medical diagnostic images, which may be received from users and gathered from remote image storage systems. Users are able to interact with the remote processing system through uniform interfaces, which may be disposed at medical institutions to provide platform independent interaction with, and remote processing by, the remote processing system. The technique also uses compression routines to facilitate network transfers of images between the uniform interface and the remote processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Francois S. Nicolas, Vianney P. Battle, Kenneth S. Kump, Christopher D. Unger