Patents by Inventor Herfried Karl Wieczorek

Herfried Karl Wieczorek 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: 20160109587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gamma radiation detection device (1). The gamma radiation detection device (1) comprises a scintillator element (2) and an optical detector (3) in optical communication with the scintillator element (2). A plurality of particles or voids (5) are dispersed in the scintillator element (2) which scatter the scintillation light (7), reducing the trapping of scintillation light (7) by multiple reflections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Herfried Karl WIECZOREK, Cornelis Reinder RONDA, Jacobus Gerardus BOEREKAMP
  • Patent number: 9315726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mixed oxide materials, methods for their preparation, detectors for ionizing radiation and CT scanners. In particular, a mixed oxide material is proposed having the formula (YwTbx)3Al5-yGayO12:Cez, wherein 0.01?w?0.99, 0.01?x?0.99, 0?y?3.5 and 0.001?z?0.10 and wherein w+x+3*z=1, whereby the mixed oxide material is doped with at least 10 ppm V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Reinder Ronda, Jacobus Gerardus Boerekamp, Daniela Buettner, Anne-Marie Andree Van Dongen, Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Sandra Johanna Maria Paula Spoor, Silvan Djohan, Wilhelmus Cornelis Keur
  • Publication number: 20160024380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mixed oxide materials, methods for their preparation, detectors for ionizing radiation and CT scanners. In particular, a mixed oxide material is proposed having the formula (Yw Tbx)3Al5-y GayO12:Cez, wherein 0.01?w?0.99, 0.01?x?0.99, 0?y?3.5 and 0.001?z?0.10 and wherein w+x+3*z=1, whereby the mixed oxide material is doped with at least 10 ppm V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Reinder RONDA, Jacobus Gerardus BOEREKAMP, Daniela BUETTNER, Anne-Marie Andree VAN DONGEN, Herfried Karl WIECZOREK, Sandra Johanna Maria Paula SPOOR, Silvan DJOHAN, Wilhelmus Cornelis KEUR
  • Publication number: 20150362604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detector (6) for detecting radiation, especially x-ray radiation used in a computed tomography system. The detector comprises a direct conversion material (9) for converting radiation into electrons and holes, which are used for generating an electrical detection signal. The direct conversion material is illuminated with illumination light being broadband visible and/or broadband infrared light for reducing, in particular, eliminating, a polarization of the direct conversion material, which may occur when being traversed by the radiation to be detected and which may reduce the detection performance. By reducing the polarization of the direct conversion material the detection performance can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Frank VERBAKEL, Klaus Juergen ENGEL, Antonius Johannes Maria NELLISSEN, Herfried Karl WIECZOREK, Eric Cornelis Egbertus VAN GRUNSVEN, Ira Micah BLEVIS, Roger STEADMAN BOOKER
  • Publication number: 20150301199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photon counting X-ray detector and detection method that effectively suppress polarization even under high flux conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Antonius Johannes Maria NELLISSEN, Frank VERBAKEL, Johan Hendrik KLOOTWIJK, Herfried Karl WIECZOREK
  • Publication number: 20150275080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scintillator material comprising a scintillator host material doped with cerium. The scintillator host material is at least one of the group comprising i) garnets ii) CaGa2S4 iii) SrGa2S4 iv) BaGa2S4 v) CaS vi) SrS; and the amount of ceriumis controlled in the range 0.1 mol % to 1.0 mol %. The material may be used in gamma photon detection, in a gamma photon detector and as such in a PET imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Cornelis Reinder Ronda, Jacobus Gerardus Boerekamp, Sandra Johanna Maria Paula Spoor, Anne-Marie Andree Van Dongen, Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Wilhelmus Cornelis Keur
  • Patent number: 9110174
    Abstract: A pixellated detector with an enhanced structure enables easy pixel identification even with high light output at crystal edges. A half-pixel shift between scintillator crystals (50) and detector pixels (12) enables the identification of a crystal (50) from four detector pixels (12) instead of nine pixels in case of optical crosstalk. Glass plates without any mechanical structuring may be used as a common substrate (60) for detectors and scintillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Andreas Thon
  • Patent number: 9012856
    Abstract: A gantry free nuclear imaging system (10) images a region of interest (ROI) (16). The system (10) includes one or more radiation detectors (20) generating radiation data indicating the location of gamma photon strikes. The system includes a reconfigurable frame (22) positioning the radiation detectors (20) at fixed viewing angles of the ROI (16) and at least one processor (44, 48). The processor (44, 48) receives the radiation data from the radiation detectors (20) and reconstructs an image of the ROI (16) from the received radiation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Jinghan Ye, Lingxiong Shao, Rizwan Hassan
  • Patent number: 9012854
    Abstract: When employing specular reflective material in a scintillator crystal array, light trapping in the crystal due to repetitive internal reflection is mitigated by roughening at least one side (16) of each of a plurality of pre-formed polished scintillator crystals. A specular reflector material (30) is applied (deposited, wrapped around, etc.) to the roughened crystals, which are arranged in an array. Each crystal array is coupled to a silicon photodetector (32) to form a detector array, which can be mounted in a detector for a functional scanner or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Andreas Thon, Steven Cooke
  • Patent number: 8975588
    Abstract: An optical device (102) configured for concentrating light towards a target element (104) is provided. The optical device (102) comprises a waveguide element (106) configured for guiding light towards the target element (104), and a wavelength conversion element (108) configured for converting incoming light of a first wavelength into outgoing light of a second wavelength. The wavelength conversion element (108) extends adjacent to the waveguide element (106). An interface (114) between the waveguide element (106) and the wavelength conversion element (108) comprises a surface roughness. The latter may provide for an in creased efficiency and low manufacturing costs of the optical device (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20140343412
    Abstract: A whole body SPECT system (10) includes a patient support (14) and a static gantry (12) which includes a plurality of rings (40a,40b,40c) of radiation detectors (42). The patient support (14) supports a patient and moves the patient in an axial direction (18) through the static gantry (12). One or more processors (20,24,32) connected to the plurality of detectors records strikes of gamma photons in the radiation detectors (42) and reconstruct the recorded strikes of the gamma photons into a whole body image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Jinghan Ye, Lingxiong Shao
  • Publication number: 20140319360
    Abstract: A gantry free nuclear imaging system (10) images a region of interest (ROI) (16). The system (10) includes one or more radiation detectors (20) generating radiation data indicating the location of gamma photon strikes. The system includes a reconfigurable frame (22) positioning the radiation detectors (20) at fixed viewing angles of the ROI (16) and at least one processor (44, 48). The processor (44, 48) receives the radiation data from the radiation detectors (20) and reconstructs an image of the ROI (16) from the received radiation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Jinghan Ye, Lingxiong Shao, Rizwan Hassan
  • Patent number: 8781198
    Abstract: When reconstructing low-collimation nuclear scan data (18) (e.g., SPECT) into a nuclear image volume (19), a spatial frequency-dependent (SFD) filter function is applied in Fourier space to the reconstructed image (19) to improve image resolution given a predefined number of reconstruction iterations and/or to reduce the number of reconstruction iterations required to achieve a predetermined level of image resolution. Size of an object to be imaged is determined, and the SFD filter function is determined or generated based on signal power spectrum (and/or modulated transfer function) data, object size, and desired image quality (or number of reconstruction iterations). The SFD filter function amplifies higher-energy components (e.g., corresponding to a lesion or tumor, or the like) of the spatial frequency spectrum to improve viability in a low collimated nuclear image (19) using fewer reconstruction iterations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20140103218
    Abstract: An optical device (102) configured for concentrating light towards a target element (104) is provided. The optical device (102) comprises a waveguide element (106) configured for guiding light towards the target element (104), and a wavelength conversion element (108) configured for converting incoming light of a first wavelength into outgoing light of a second wavelength. The wavelength conversion element (108) extends adjacent to the waveguide element (106). An interface (114) between the waveguide element (106) and the wavelength conversion element (108) comprises a surface roughness. The latter may provide for an in creased efficiency and low manufacturing costs of the optical device (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20140084170
    Abstract: When employing specular reflective material in a scintillator crystal array, light trapping in the crystal due to repetitive internal reflection is mitigated by roughening at least one side (16) of each of a plurality of pre-formed polished scintillator crystals. A specular reflector material (30) is applied (deposited, wrapped around, etc.) to the roughened crystals, which are arranged in an array. Each crystal array is coupled to a silicon photodetector (32) to form a detector array, which can be mounted in a detector for a functional scanner or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Andreas Thon, Steven Cooke
  • Publication number: 20130153776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pixellated detector with an enhanced structure to enable easy pixel identification even with high light output at crystal edges. A half-pixel shift between scintillator crystals (50) and detector pixels (12) enables the identification of a crystal (50) from four detector pixels (12) instead of nine pixels in case of optical crosstalk. Glass plates without any mechanical structuring may be used as a common substrate (60) for detectors and scintillators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Andreas Thon
  • Publication number: 20130129178
    Abstract: A method includes reconstructing projection data corresponding to a scanned object of interest using an iterative reconstruction algorithm in which a number of reconstruction iterations for the iterative reconstruction algorithm is set based on a size of the scanned object of interest. A system (114) includes a reconstruction algorithm bank (210) including at least one iterative reconstruction algorithm (210), a number of reconstruction iteration determiners (208) that determines a number of reconstruction iterations for reconstructing an image of a scanned object of interest based on the at least one iterative reconstruction algorithm for a size of the scanned object of interest, and a reconstructor (112) that reconstructs projection data to generate the image using at least one iterative reconstruction algorithm based on the determined number of reconstruction iterations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20110194747
    Abstract: When reconstructing low-collimation nuclear scan data (18) (e.g., SPECT) into a nuclear image volume (19), a spatial frequency-dependent (SFD) filter function is applied in Fourier space to the reconstructed image (19) to improve image resolution given a predefined number of reconstruction iterations and/or to reduce the number of reconstruction iterations required to achieve a predetermined level of image resolution. Size of an object to be imaged is determined, and the SFD filter function is determined or generated based on signal power spectrum (and/or modulated transfer function) data, object size, and desired image quality (or number of reconstruction iterations). The SFD filter function amplifies higher-energy components (e.g., corresponding to a lesion or tumor, or the like) of the spatial frequency spectrum to improve viability in a low collimated nuclear image (19) using fewer reconstruction iterations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 7608836
    Abstract: An x-ray detector comprises a conversion layer for converting x-radiation into optical radiation. Photosensitive elements notably photodiodes to derive electronic signals from the optical radiation received by the photosensitive elements. The conversion layer contains Caesium-iodide doped with Thallium (CsI:Tl); the Caesium-iodide doped with Thallium is ultrapure and the Tl-doping level is in the range of 0.25-1.00 at %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Herfried Karl Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 7535009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating images and/or projections, which device includes a device for the detection of input radiation. The device for the detection of input radiation comprises a sensor with a Pr3+-activated scintillator for converting the input radiation into UV radiation. The Pr3+-activated scintillators have short excitation and decay times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Juestel, Walter Mayr, Herfried Karl Wieczorek