Patents by Inventor George William Ferguson
George William Ferguson 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).
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Publication number: 20230190200Abstract: A trajectory is determined for inserting a patient into an MR scanner. An avatar representing specific body dimensions is provided. The avatar includes location information relating to an implant. A spatial magnetic field gradient data set relating to the scanner is provided. An avatar pose at a starting point of the trajectory is defined, and a course for the trajectory is provided. For several points on the trajectory, the corresponding magnetic field value are determined by combining the spatial magnetic field gradient data set with the avatar pose. The trajectory and/or the avatar pose are determined so that the at least one implant only passes regions within the MR scanner that are below a predetermined threshold value concerning the magnetic field gradient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Uvo Hölscher, George William Ferguson, Felix Horn
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Patent number: 11474184Abstract: The present disclosure relates to operating an MR system in which MR signals of an object under examination are acquired in an examining region using a multi echo imaging sequence, in which an RF excitation pulse and a plurality of RF refocusing pulses are applied. The techniques include determining a first accumulated phase of a magnetization in the object under examination. Then, a second accumulated phase of the magnetization in the object under examination is determined due to concomitant magnetic fields occurring between a second pair of consecutive RF pulses. Finally, it is determined whether a deviation from the predefined relationship is larger than a threshold and, if this is the case, a measure is applied in view of the fact that the deviation is larger than the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler, Constantin von Deuster
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Patent number: 11360165Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination. Also disclosed is a magnetic resonance apparatus, which is designed to perform a method for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination. A corresponding computer program product is also disclosed, which is designed to perform a method for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination, and an electronically readable data storage medium containing the computer program.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Designaffairs GmbHInventors: Katharina Hesels, Jonas Vollmer, Sabine Norosinski, George William Ferguson, Roman Achleitner
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Patent number: 11231478Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for acquiring MR signals of an object under examination in an MR system using a multi echo imaging sequence. The method comprises the steps of applying an RF excitation pulse to the object to generate a transverse magnetization, applying at least two RF refocusing pulses for refocusing the transverse magnetization to generate at least two MR spin echoes for the RF excitation pulse, applying a first magnetic field gradient in a read out direction between the RF excitation pulse and the first of the at least two RF refocusing pulses, applying a second magnetic field gradient in the read out direction after each of the at least two RF refocusing pulses such that the zeroth and first gradient moment is substantially zero for the second magnetic field gradient, and acquiring the at least two MR spin echoes during the at least two second magnetic field gradients.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Constantin von Deuster, George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler
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Patent number: 11061087Abstract: A method includes determining a position of a local coil, a coil position, and a position of a body part of a patient, a body part position. Spacing between the coil position and the body part position is determined. An optimized MR sequence is determined. Based on the determined spacing between the coil position and the body part position, it is checked that in a subsequent MR examination of the patient, a predetermined loading threshold value (e.g., an SAR value) is not exceeded. The optimization of the MR sequence thus takes place under the boundary condition that the loading threshold value is not exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: George William Ferguson, Martin Harder, Daniel Rinck
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Patent number: 10996307Abstract: In a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) apparatus and operating method, a field of view for imaging a target object is acquired. A relative position of this field of view in relation to a receiving space of the MRT scanner, in which the target object is received, is then automatically determined. A radio-frequency (RF) pulse to be used by the MRT scanner for imaging the target object is then automatically adjusted depending on this relative position. An excitation angle produced in the field of view by the RF pulse is changed compared to the use of the corresponding unadjusted RF pulse.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Flavio Carinci, George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler, Dieter Ritter, Dominik Paul
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Publication number: 20200379073Abstract: The present disclosure relates to operating an MR system in which MR signals of an object under examination are acquired in an examining region using a multi echo imaging sequence, in which an RF excitation pulse and a plurality of RF refocusing pulses are applied. The techniques include determining a first accumulated phase of a magnetization in the object under examination. Then, a second accumulated phase of the magnetization in the object under examination is determined due to concomitant magnetic fields occurring between a second pair of consecutive RF pulses. Finally, it is determined whether a deviation from the predefined relationship is larger than a threshold and, if this is the case, a measure is applied in view of the fact that the deviation is larger than the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler, Constantin von Deuster
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Publication number: 20200309886Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for acquiring MR signals of an object under examination in an MR system using a multi echo imaging sequence. The method comprises the steps of applying an RF excitation pulse to the object to generate a transverse magnetization, applying at least two RF refocusing pulses for refocusing the transverse magnetization to generate at least two MR spin echoes for the RF excitation pulse, applying a first magnetic field gradient in a read out direction between the RF excitation pulse and the first of the at least two RF refocusing pulses, applying a second magnetic field gradient in the read out direction after each of the at least two RF refocusing pulses such that the zeroth and first gradient moment is substantially zero for the second magnetic field gradient, and acquiring the at least two MR spin echoes during the at least two second magnetic field gradients.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Constantin von Deuster, George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler
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Publication number: 20200025845Abstract: A method includes determining a position of a local coil, a coil position, and a position of a body part of a patient, a body part position. Spacing between the coil position and the body part position is determined. An optimized MR sequence is determined. Based on the determined spacing between the coil position and the body part position, it is checked that in a subsequent MR examination of the patient, a predetermined loading threshold value (e.g., an SAR value) is not exceeded. The optimization of the MR sequence thus takes place under the boundary condition that the loading threshold value is not exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: George William Ferguson, Martin Harder, Daniel Rinck
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Publication number: 20190377052Abstract: In a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) apparatus and operating method, a field of view for imaging a target object is acquired. A relative position of this field of view in relation to a receiving space of the MRT scanner, in which the target object is received, is then automatically determined. A radio-frequency (RF) pulse to be used by the MRT scanner for imaging the target object is then automatically adjusted depending on this relative position. An excitation angle produced in the field of view by the RF pulse is changed compared to the use of the corresponding unadjusted RF pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Flavio Carinci, George William Ferguson, Michael Koehler, Dieter Ritter, Dominik Paul
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Publication number: 20190353719Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination. Also disclosed is a magnetic resonance apparatus, which is designed to perform a method for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination. A corresponding computer program product is also disclosed, which is designed to perform a method for assisting in positioning an accessory unit on a patient for a magnetic resonance examination, and an electronically readable data storage medium containing the computer program.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Katharina Hesels, Jonas Vollmer, Sabine Norosinski, George William Ferguson, Roman Achleitner
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Publication number: 20190029559Abstract: In a method for a direct positioning of a region of interest of a patient inside a basic field magnet of a canner of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a patient is positioned on a patient table, and at least one local RF-coil is positioned on or close to the patient on a region of interest that is to be examined. A distance between the position of the at least one local RF-coil and the isocenter of the basic field magnet is determined. The local RF-coil together with the patient table is moved automatically along the z-direction for at least the determined distance, so that a center of the local RF-coil is in or at least at the z-position of the isocenter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: Stephan Nufer, Dominik Paul, George William Ferguson
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Publication number: 20190027246Abstract: In a method and imaging apparatus for detecting and analyzing a workflow performed in an examination room of the imaging apparatus during a patient examination, first detection data of a first position on or close to a patient table in the examination room, and recording second detection data of a second position anywhere else in the examination room, are recovered by a detection unit, continuously over time. The detection data are analyzed in order to identify whether at least one action has taken place in the examination room, and record the time and/or the time interval in which the at least one action has taken place, and identify the type of the at least one action that has taken place, and recording the type of the at least one action.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: George William Ferguson, Stephan Nufer
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Publication number: 20190012536Abstract: A monitoring method and system for monitoring a magnetic resonance apparatus having a scanner with an examination region, a video camera obtains images from an acquisition region that includes at least one of accesses to the examination room in which the scanner is situated, and a region upstream of the examination region. The images are evaluated in a processor to determine whether an alarm condition, which is different from only detecting a person, is met. When the alarm condition is met, the processor causes an alarm to be emitted that is perceptible within the examination room.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbHInventors: George William Ferguson, Stephan Nufer, Dominik Paul