Patents by Inventor Gerald Schroecker

Gerald Schroecker 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: 11160534
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for utilizing depth from ultrasound volume rendering for 3D printing. Volumetric ultrasound dataset may be generated, based on echo ultrasound signals, and one or more volume rendered ultrasound images, based on the volumetric ultrasound dataset, may be displayed. Based on the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images and/or the volumetric ultrasound dataset, three-dimensional (3D) printing data may be generated. The 3D printing data may be configured to enable producing, via a 3D printer, a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D printing data may be based on 3D modeling of at least a portion of at least one of the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D modeling may comprise a surface mesh representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 10685439
    Abstract: An imaging system and method acquire first ultrasound image data of a body at a first acquisition quality level, display one or more two-dimensional images of the body using the image data at the first acquisition quality level, and create second ultrasound image data at a reduced, second acquisition quality level. The second ultrasound image data is created from the first ultrasound image data that was acquired at the first acquisition quality level. The system and method also display a rendered multi-dimensional image of the body using the second ultrasound image data at the reduced, second acquisition quality level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Helmut Brandl, Erwin Fosodeder
  • Publication number: 20200005452
    Abstract: An imaging system and method acquire first ultrasound image data of a body at a first acquisition quality level, display one or more two-dimensional images of the body using the image data at the first acquisition quality level, and create second ultrasound image data at a reduced, second acquisition quality level. The second ultrasound image data is created from the first ultrasound image data that was acquired at the first acquisition quality level. The system and method also display a rendered multi-dimensional image of the body using the second ultrasound image data at the reduced, second acquisition quality level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Helmut Brandl, Erwin Fosodeder
  • Publication number: 20190380685
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for shading a 2D ultrasound image, generated from ultrasound data, using a gradient determined from scalar values of the ultrasound image data. As one example, a method includes correlating image values of a dataset acquired with an ultrasound imaging system to height values; determining a gradient of the height values; applying shading to a 2D image generated from the dataset using the determined gradient; and displaying the shaded 2D image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Daniel John Buckton
  • Publication number: 20190365353
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for utilizing depth from ultrasound volume rendering for 3D printing. Volumetric ultrasound dataset may be generated, based on echo ultrasound signals, and one or more volume rendered ultrasound images, based on the volumetric ultrasound dataset, may be displayed. Based on the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images and/or the volumetric ultrasound dataset, three-dimensional (3D) printing data may be generated. The 3D printing data may be configured to enable producing, via a 3D printer, a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D printing data may be based on 3D modeling of at least a portion of at least one of the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D modeling may comprise a surface mesh representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 10492761
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for utilizing depth from ultrasound volume rendering for 3D printing. Volumetric ultrasound dataset may be generated, based on echo ultrasound signals, and one or more volume rendered ultrasound images, based on the volumetric ultrasound dataset, may be displayed. Based on the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images and/or the volumetric ultrasound dataset, three-dimensional (3D) printing data may be generated. The 3D printing data may be configured to enable producing, via a 3D printer, a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D printing data may be based on 3D modeling of at least a portion of at least one of the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D modeling may comprise a surface mesh representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 10489969
    Abstract: A method and system for applying shading to descriptors that are presented with 2D ultrasound images having corresponding shading is provided. The method may include mapping, by a processor, height values of a synthetic map to pixels of a descriptor. The method may include determining, by the processor, a gradient of the height values for each of the pixels of the descriptor. The method may include applying, by the processor, shading to the descriptor based on shading parameters and the gradient of the height values for each of the pixels of the descriptor to create a shaded descriptor. The method may include presenting, by the processor, the shaded descriptor at a display system with a 2D ultrasound image having shading corresponding with the shading applied to the shaded descriptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel John Buckton, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 10453193
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for shading a 2D ultrasound image, generated from ultrasound data, using a gradient determined from scalar values of the ultrasound image data. As one example, a method includes correlating image values of a dataset acquired with an ultrasound imaging system to height values; determining a gradient of the height values; applying shading to a 2D image generated from the dataset using the determined gradient; and displaying the shaded 2D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Daniel John Buckton
  • Patent number: 10380787
    Abstract: A method and system for volume-rendering. The method and system include generating a volume-rendered image that is shaded from a light direction, displaying the volume-rendered image, displaying a model of a solid at the same time as the volume-rendered image, and displaying a light direction indicator with respect to the model of the solid, wherein the position of the light direction indicator corresponds to the light direction used for shading the volume-rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerald Schroecker
  • Publication number: 20190139299
    Abstract: A method and system for applying shading to descriptors that are presented with 2D ultrasound images having corresponding shading is provided. The method may include mapping, by a processor, height values of a synthetic map to pixels of a descriptor. The method may include determining, by the processor, a gradient of the height values for each of the pixels of the descriptor. The method may include applying, by the processor, shading to the descriptor based on shading parameters and the gradient of the height values for each of the pixels of the descriptor to create a shaded descriptor. The method may include presenting, by the processor, the shaded descriptor at a display system with a 2D ultrasound image having shading corresponding with the shading applied to the shaded descriptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel John Buckton, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 10157500
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing depth from volume rendering for 3D printing. Three-dimensional (3D) mesh data may be generated based on one or more volume rendered images and/or volumetric datasets corresponding thereto, obtained during medical imaging (e.g., based on echo ultrasound signals during ultrasound imaging). Generating the 3D mesh data may comprise computing a plurality of depth values, where each depth value corresponds to a particular voxel in the volumetric medical imaging datasets. The 3D mesh data may be configured to enable producing a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered images. Thus, the 3D mesh data may be used for 3D printing. For example, 3D printing data may be generated based on the 3D mesh data. The 3D printing data may be configured and formatted based on a pre-defined 3D printing standard or file format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Publication number: 20180322628
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for shading a 2D ultrasound image, generated from ultrasound data, using a gradient determined from scalar values of the ultrasound image data. As one example, a method includes correlating image values of a dataset acquired with an ultrasound imaging system to height values; determining a gradient of the height values; applying shading to a 2D image generated from the dataset using the determined gradient; and displaying the shaded 2D image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Daniel John Buckton
  • Publication number: 20180033186
    Abstract: A method and system for volume-rendering. The method and system include generating a volume-rendered image that is shaded from a light direction, displaying the volume-rendered image, displaying a model of a solid at the same time as the volume-rendered image, and displaying a light direction indicator with respect to the model of the solid, wherein the position of the light direction indicator corresponds to the light direction used for shading the volume-rendered image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 9818220
    Abstract: A method and system for volume-rendering. The method and system include generating a volume-rendered image that is shaded from a light direction, displaying the volume-rendered image, displaying a model of a solid at the same time as the volume-rendered image, and displaying a light direction indicator with respect to the model of the solid, wherein the position of the light direction indicator corresponds to the light direction used for shading the volume-rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 9747709
    Abstract: Rendering a time sequence of 2-D images includes obtaining ultrasound image data, applying time variant noise, and raytracing the ultrasound image data to render pixels of a 2-D image for each of a plurality of time steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Eduard Gröller, Alexey Karimov, Stefan Bruckner
  • Patent number: 9741161
    Abstract: A method, system and medical imaging device include accessing a 3D medical imaging dataset and generating a volume-rendered image from the 3D medical imaging dataset. Generating the volume-rendered image includes calculating a shading for the volume-rendered image based on a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source. The second light source and the third light source are both positioned differently than the first light source. The method, system, and medical imaging device also include displaying the volume-rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 9655592
    Abstract: A method for rendering an image from ultrasound image data includes dividing the ultrasound image data into at least a first group of voxels and a second group of voxels, based on comparing voxel echo intensity to a threshold value. The method further includes processing the first group of voxels according to a first protocol and processing the second group of voxels according to a second protocol. The method further includes generating an image that includes both the first group of processed voxels and the second group of processed voxels to enhance realism of the rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald Schroecker, Eduard Gröller, Alexey Karimov, Stefan Bruckner, Daniel Buckton
  • Publication number: 20170109925
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing depth from volume rendering for 3D printing. Three-dimensional (3D) mesh data may be generated based on one or more volume rendered images and/or volumetric datasets corresponding thereto, obtained during medical imaging (e.g., based on echo ultrasound signals during ultrasound imaging). Generating the 3D mesh data may comprise computing a plurality of depth values, where each depth value corresponds to a particular voxel in the volumetric medical imaging datasets. The 3D mesh data may be configured to enable producing a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered images. Thus, the 3D mesh data may be used for 3D printing. For example, 3D printing data may be generated based on the 3D mesh data. The 3D printing data may be configured and formatted based on a pre-defined 3D printing standard or file format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Publication number: 20170106597
    Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for utilizing depth from ultrasound volume rendering for 3D printing. Volumetric ultrasound dataset may be generated, based on echo ultrasound signals, and one or more volume rendered ultrasound images, based on the volumetric ultrasound dataset, may be displayed. Based on the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images and/or the volumetric ultrasound dataset, three-dimensional (3D) printing data may be generated. The 3D printing data may be configured to enable producing, via a 3D printer, a physical volume representation of one or more objects and/or structures in the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D printing data may be based on 3D modeling of at least a portion of at least one of the one or more volume rendered ultrasound images. The 3D modeling may comprise a surface mesh representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur Gritzky, Gerald Schroecker
  • Patent number: 9390546
    Abstract: Methods and system for visualizing 3D ultrasound data are provided. One method includes obtaining image slices from a volumetric image data set and generating a ray profile using one or more rays through at least one of the image slices, wherein the one or more rays extend along a depth of the volumetric image data set. The method further includes identifying one or more seed points along the one or more rays and defining a clipping surface using the one or more seed points, wherein the clipping surface defines a rendering region within the volumetric image data set. The method also includes rendering a 3D image of the rendering region within the volumetric image data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel John Buckton, Gerald Schroecker, Andrej Varchola, Stefan Bruckner, Eduard Groeller, Johannes Novotny