Patents by Inventor Helmut Greim

Helmut Greim 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).

  • Publication number: 20090128149
    Abstract: A local coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a support structure with an antenna arrangement and a sensor arrangement embedded in the support structure. The antenna arrangement has a number of magnetic resonance antennas. A magnetic resonance excitation signal can respectively be emitted by means of each magnetic resonance antenna and/or a magnetic resonance signal can respectively be received by means of each magnetic resonance antenna. The sensor arrangement has a number of magnetic field sensors and an evaluation circuit. The magnetic field sensors detect how large a static magnetic field is to which the local coil arrangement is exposed and output a corresponding output signal and supply a corresponding output signal to the evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit determines a logical presence signal and outputs it. The value of the logical presence signal depends on whether a field strength of the static magnetic field is greater than a minimum field strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Publication number: 20090096456
    Abstract: An arrangement to transmit magnetic resonance signals has a local coil composed of a number of individual antennas for acquisition of radio-frequency signals of a magnetic resonance examination. Preamplifiers amplify the radio-frequency signals, and a transmission device transmits the radio-frequency signals from the local coil to the preamplifiers. The transmission device is fashioned as a readout coil and has a number of individual antennas. The individual antennas of the readout coil are magnetically coupled with the individual antennas of the local coil, with the individual antennas of the local coil and the individual antennas of the readout coil forming a linear MIMO transmission system describable by a transmission matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Helmut Greim, Joerg Rothard, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 7498815
    Abstract: An array antenna for magnetic resonance applications has at least one first and one second conductor loop in which radio-frequency currents oscillate in respective current flow directions in the operation of the array antenna. The respective conductor loops are divided into first or second loop segments in their respective current flow directions. The first loop segments are capacitively coupled with one another by first capacitors, the second loop segments are capacitively coupled with one another of second capacitors. The loop segments are fashioned as conductor traces of a circuit board that has at least one first and one second electrically insulating support layer. The support layers abut one another with the exception of conductor traces arranged between the first support layer and the second support layer. The capacitors are respectively formed by end regions of the first or second loop segments abutting one another as viewed in the respective current flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Martin Hemmerlein
  • Publication number: 20080231280
    Abstract: In a method and arrangement for local manipulation of a B1 field in a first region of an examination subject in an examination volume of a magnetic resonance system, a B1 measurement value that represents the B1 field in the sub-volume during an adjustment measurement is integrally determined, and in desired radio-frequency signal parameters for a subsequent magnetic resonance measurement are predetermined on the basis of the determined B1 measurement value. At least during the adjustment measurement, the B1 field is influenced within a second region counter to the manipulation intended in the first region by means of an auxiliary coil element which is arranged in or at the second region of the sub-volume remote from the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Steffen Wolf
  • Publication number: 20080224702
    Abstract: A field distribution correction element for positioning on an examination subject in a magnetic resonance system for local influencing of the radio-frequency field distribution during a magnetic resonance acquisition has a system of electrically conductive dipole strips essentially running in parallel, arranged on a carrier element. In a corresponding method for generation of magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject in a magnetic resonance system, for local influencing of the radio-frequency field distribution, such a field distribution correction element is positioned on the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Yvonne Candidus, Helmut Greim, Markus Vester, Steffen Wolf
  • Publication number: 20080143333
    Abstract: An array antenna for magnetic resonance applications has at least one first and one second conductor loop in which radio-frequency currents oscillate in respective current flow directions in the operation of the array antenna. The respective conductor loops are divided into first or second loop segments in their respective current flow directions. The first loop segments are capacitively coupled with one another by first capacitors, the second loop segments are capacitively coupled with one another of second capacitors. The loop segments are fashioned as conductor traces of a circuit board that has at least one first and one second electrically insulating support layer. The support layers abut one another with the exception of conductor traces arranged between the first support layer and the second support layer. The capacitors are respectively formed by end regions of the first or second loop segments abutting one another as viewed in the respective current flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Martin Hemmerlein
  • Patent number: 7367839
    Abstract: Feed line for at least one local coil in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, comprising at least one coil plug as well as at least one standing wave barrier for suppression of unwanted radio-frequency currents on a conductor cable of the feed line, with the standing wave barrier integrated into the coil plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Jürgen Hagen
  • Publication number: 20070279062
    Abstract: A double resonance coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance device has at least two coils, each having a coil conductor, in which at least one first capacitor, as well as at least one inductor forming an oscillating circuit with a second capacitor, are connected. The inductors of two adjacently arranged coils are at a distance from one another and form a transformer. The capacitors, the inductor and the distance are dimensioned such that each coil is double resonant and the at least two coils are decoupled from each other by the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Volker Matschi
  • Patent number: 7268550
    Abstract: An antenna element for magnetic resonance applications has at least one sub-section that extends along a section axis and is adjacent to an auxiliary circuit. The antenna element has a coupling section and an auxiliary circuit section that is inductively coupled to the sub-section via the coupling section. The auxiliary circuit section extends parallel to the sub-section at a distance from the section axis. The auxiliary circuit has controllable tuning elements therein. Depending on their control state, a radio-frequency excitation current flowing in the sub-section causes, at respectively different times, each of a leading auxiliary current, or a lagging auxiliary current, or no auxiliary current to flow in the auxiliary current section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Patent number: 7212002
    Abstract: A local coil unit for acquisition of a magnetic resonance signal of an examination subject, and that can be placed directly on this examination subject, has a deformable section that can be adapted to a contour of the examination subject by a bending mechanism. During acquisition of the magnetic resonance signal, a high signal-to-noise ratio thus can be achieved, which leads to a good image quality. Due to its deformability, the local coil unit is suited for use for sensitive magnetic resonance data acquisition from different examination subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Thomas Kundner
  • Publication number: 20070026733
    Abstract: Feed line for at least one local coil in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, comprising at least one coil plug as well as at least one standing wave barrier for suppression of unwanted radio-frequency currents on a conductor cable of the feed line, with the standing wave barrier integrated into the coil plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Jurgen Hagen
  • Patent number: 7164333
    Abstract: A standing wave barrier for at least one radio frequency cable having a cable axis has at least one metallic base web that proceeds parallel to the cable axis from a first web end to a second web end. The web ends are coupled to one another in terms of radio frequency terms via a capacitance, so that the base web and the capacitance together form a radio frequency resonant oscillator circuit. The base web and the capacitance are situated in one of two half-shells that can be connected to one another such that the radio frequency cable is clamped between them. The capacitance has an adjustable capacitor element that has a first capacitor surface and a second capacitor surface. The first capacitor surface is connected in electrically conductive fashion to the first web end, and the second capacitor surface is connected in electrically conductive fashion to the second web end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Jürgen Hagen
  • Publication number: 20050231300
    Abstract: A standing wave barrier for at least one radio frequency cable having a cable axis has at least one metallic base web that proceeds parallel to the cable axis from a first web end to a second web end. The web ends are coupled to one another in terms of radio frequency terms via a capacitance, so that the base web and the capacitance together form a radio frequency resonant oscillator circuit. The base web and the capacitance are situated in one of two half-shells that can be connected to one another such that the radio frequency cable is clamped between them. The capacitance has an adjustable capacitor element that has a first capacitor surface and a second capacitor surface. The first capacitor surface is connected in electrically conductive fashion to the first web end, and the second capacitor surface is connected in electrically conductive fashion to the second web end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Jurgen Hagen
  • Publication number: 20050174117
    Abstract: A local coil unit for acquisition of a magnetic resonance signal of an examination subject, and that can be placed directly on this examination subject, has a deformable section that can be adapted to a contour of the examination subject by a bending mechanism. During acquisition of the magnetic resonance signal, a high signal-to-noise ratio thus can be achieved, which leads to a good image quality. Due to its deformability, the local coil unit is suited for use for sensitive magnetic resonance data acquisition from different examination subjects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Helmut Greim, Thomas Kundner
  • Publication number: 20040257073
    Abstract: An antenna element for magnetic resonance applications has at least one sub-section that extends along a section axis and is adjacent to an auxiliary circuit. The antenna element has a coupling section and an auxiliary circuit section that is inductively coupled to the sub-section via the coupling section. The auxiliary circuit section extends parallel to the sub-section at a spacing from the section axis. The auxiliary circuit has controllable tuning elements therein. Depending on their control state, a radio-frequency excitation current flowing in the sub-section causes in the auxiliary circuit section a leading auxiliary current, a lagging auxiliary current, or no auxiliary current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Patent number: 6795037
    Abstract: A radio-frequency antenna for a magnetic resonance system has a basic element with two end rings and a number of antenna rods, and a radio-frequency mirror. The end rings are arranged concentrically relative to an antenna axis can and are axially offset from one another. The antenna rods are arranged around the antenna axis and connect the end rings. The radio-frequency mirror is inductively coupled to the end rings and the antenna rods. It limits a magnetic resonance excitation signal emitted by the antenna and/or a magnetic resonance signal received by the antenna axially at one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Publication number: 20030222832
    Abstract: A radio-frequency antenna for a magnetic resonance system has a basic element with two end rings and a number of antenna rods, and a radio-frequency mirror. The end rings are arranged concentrically relative to an antenna axis can and are axially offset from one another. The antenna rods are arranged around the antenna axis and connect the end rings. The radio-frequency mirror is inductively coupled to the end rings and the antenna rods. It limits a magnetic resonance excitation signal emitted by the antenna and/or a magnetic resonance signal received by the antenna axially at one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Patent number: 6552546
    Abstract: An inductively coupled reception coil arrangement for magnetic resonance tomography, having at least two inter-nested individual coils, the outer primary coil of which serves as output coil for the inner secondary coil. The primary coil has a pre-amplifier decoupling device which closes it with high resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Greim
  • Patent number: 6469509
    Abstract: An inherently decoupled MR reception coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance imaging tomography system has a number of selectively pluggable local coils, in which the local coils provided with active detuning also have a passive detuning circuit for the transmission phase, and at least one of the local coils has a passive detuning circuit for the reception phase in the unplugged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Friedrich, Helmut Greim
  • Publication number: 20020080911
    Abstract: An inherently decoupled MR reception coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance imaging tomography system has a number of selectively pluggable local coils, in which the local coils provided with active detuning also have a passive detuning circuit for the transmission phase, and at least one of the local coils has a passive detuning circuit for the reception phase in the unplugged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Axel Friedrich, Helmut Greim