Patents by Inventor Jeff Alan Stainsby
Jeff Alan Stainsby 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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Patent number: 11860254Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a set of magnet coils for generating a magnetic field. The set of magnet coils are composed of a superconducting material. The system further includes a mechanical cryocooler in thermal contact with the set of magnet coils and operable to reduce and maintain a temperature of the set of magnet coils below a transition temperature of the superconducting material, and an energy storage device coupled to the set of magnet coils. The energy storage device may be capable of receiving and storing energy dissipated from the set of magnet coils during rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils. The system may also include a controller coupled to the energy storage device. The controller may be programmed to recharge the set of magnet coils using the energy stored in the energy storage device during the rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther
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Patent number: 11675037Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic field-dependent relaxometry using magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. Relaxation parameters, including longitudinal relaxation time (“T1”) and transverse relaxation time (“T2”), are estimated from magnetic resonance signal data acquired at multiple different magnetic field strengths using the same MRI system. By measuring these relaxation parameters as a function of magnetic field strength, T1 dispersion data, T2 dispersion data, or both, are generated. Based on this dispersion data, quantitative physiological parameters can be estimated. As one example, iron content can be estimated from T2 dispersion data.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, David Mark Deschenes, Alexander Gyles Panther, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Philip J. Beatty
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Patent number: 11662403Abstract: A portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and methods, involving a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field, the magnet being a portable magnet transportable on a cart, and at least one coil assembly disposed in relation to the magnet, the at least one coil assembly having at least one gradient coil.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Inventors: Cameron Anthony Piron, Alexander Gyles Panther, Sheryl Rae Thingvold, Chad Tyler Harris, Jeff Alan Stainsby
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Patent number: 11650273Abstract: Systems and methods involving: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be imaged is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; pulse-generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse-generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2022Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Patent number: 11624794Abstract: An automatic protocolling system and methods involving a processor operable by way of a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a nontransient memory device, the set of executable instructions configuring the processor to: receive information relating to an initial protocol comprising an initial ordering of a plurality of sequences, the information comprising data relating to an interaction extent value of at least one of an imaging system and a patient as a function of time corresponding to each sequence in the plurality of sequences, the data relating to a time-integrated effect of each sequence in the plurality of sequences; and dynamically determine an alternative protocol comprising an alternative ordering of the plurality of sequences based on the time-integrated effect, whereby an alternative protocol is provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Andrew Thomas Curtis, Philip J. Beatty, Curtis Nathan Wiens
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Patent number: 11567155Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for mitigating or otherwise removing the effects of short-term magnetic field instabilities caused by oscillations of the cold head in a cryogen-free magnet system used for magnetic resonance systems, such as magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) systems, nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) systems, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Synaptive Medical Inc.Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Geron Andre Bindseil, Alexander Gyles Panther, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Philip J. Beatty
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Patent number: 11506738Abstract: A delta-relaxation magnetic resonance imaging (DREMR) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet and field shifting coils. A main magnetic field with a strength B0 can be generated using the main filed magnet and the strength B0 of the main magnetic field can be varied through the use of the field-shifting coils. The DREMR system can be used to perform signal acquisition based on a pulse sequence for acquiring at least one of T2*-weighted signals imaging; MR spectroscopy signals; saturation imaging signals and MR signals for fingerprinting. The MR signal acquisition can be augmented by varying the strength B0 of the main magnetic field for at least a portion of the pulse sequence used to acquire the MR signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Synaptive Medical Inc.Inventors: Alexander Gyles Panther, Cameron Anthony Piron, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Publication number: 20220349968Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a set of magnet coils for generating a magnetic field. The set of magnet coils are composed of a superconducting material. The system further includes a mechanical cryocooler in thermal contact with the set of magnet coils and operable to reduce and maintain a temperature of the set of magnet coils below a transition temperature of the superconducting material, and an energy storage device coupled to the set of magnet coils. The energy storage device may be capable of receiving and storing energy dissipated from the set of magnet coils during rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils. The system may also include a controller coupled to the energy storage device. The controller may be programmed to recharge the set of magnet coils using the energy stored in the energy storage device during the rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther
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Patent number: 11428764Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a set of magnet coils for generating a magnetic field. The set of magnet coils are composed of a superconducting material. The system further includes a mechanical cryocooler in thermal contact with the set of magnet coils and operable to reduce and maintain a temperature of the set of magnet coils below a transition temperature of the superconducting material, and an energy storage device coupled to the set of magnet coils. The energy storage device may be capable of receiving and storing energy dissipated from the set of magnet coils during rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils. The system may also include a controller coupled to the energy storage device. The controller may be programmed to recharge the set of magnet coils using the energy stored in the energy storage device during the rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther
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Publication number: 20220244332Abstract: An intelligent control system (S) and methods (M, M1, M2) for dynamically controlling components of an MRI system (10), the intelligent control system (S) involving a processor (700), configurable to: determine a current-use state of each component; optimize energy usage among the components based on the current-use state of each component, whereby an optimal energy usage is provided; alter an energy consumption profile of each component based on the optimal energy usage, whereby an altered energy consumption for each component is provided; automatically activate power to each component based on the altered energy consumption when the MRI system (10) is to be operated; and automatically deactivate power to each component based on the altered energy consumption when the MRI system (10) is not to be operated, whereby the MRI system (10) is automatically operable when needed and inoperable when not needed, continually powering the components is eliminated, and an average energy consumption of the MRI system (10)Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Jeff Alan STAINSBY, Chad Tyler HARRIS, Alexander Gyles PANTHER
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Publication number: 20220244331Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a set of magnet coils for generating a magnetic field. The set of magnet coils are composed of a superconducting material. The system further includes a mechanical cryocooler in thermal contact with the set of magnet coils and operable to reduce and maintain a temperature of the set of magnet coils below a transition temperature of the superconducting material, and an energy storage device coupled to the set of magnet coils. The energy storage device may be capable of receiving and storing energy dissipated from the set of magnet coils during rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils. The system may also include a controller coupled to the energy storage device. The controller may be programmed to recharge the set of magnet coils using the energy stored in the energy storage device during the rapid shutdown of the set of magnet coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Alexander Gyles Panther
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Patent number: 11402449Abstract: A method is provided for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging near metal, including acquiring an image at a first magnetic field from a subject that includes a metal object, acquiring an image at a second magnetic field, and combining the images to provide a corrected image with reduced metal distortion. An MR imaging system for measuring near metal is also provided including a superconducting magnet to provide a magnetic field, a power supply for a current to ramp the magnetic field, a cryocooler in contact with the superconducting magnet, a magnetic field controller programmed to ramp the main magnetic field by adjusting the current generated by the power supply, a radio frequency system for transmitting and receiving signals, and a data acquisition and processing system to receive the MR signals, generate image data sets and combine the image data sets to provide a corrected image having a reduced metal distortion.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Patent number: 11397230Abstract: Methods for correcting a non-uniform power response of a radiofrequency (“RF”) transmit coil used in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are described. Transmit power response data for an RF transmit coil are processed to compute RF amplitude scaling factors for the RF transmit coil as a function of transmit frequency offset. The RF amplitude scaling factors can be used to correct transmitted RF power, and thus flip angle, to be more uniform over a range of transmit frequency offsets, as may be encountered when imaging with lower field MRI systems or MRI systems with high strength or asymmetric gradients.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris, Andrew Thomas Curtis, Alexander Gyles Panther
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Publication number: 20220229131Abstract: Systems and methods involving: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be imaged is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; pulse-generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse-generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Patent number: 11378639Abstract: Some implementations provide a system that includes: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be image is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; one or more gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; one or more pulse generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; one or more shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Publication number: 20220146612Abstract: An asymmetric electromagnet system, method, and method of producing an asymmetric electromagnet system, wherein the asymmetric electromagnet system is for generating an imaging magnetic field in an imaging region with an imaging isocentre, the imaging region being asymmetrically positioned within a gradient coil bore inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during imaging, the electromagnet assembly comprising: an asymmetric gradient coil configured to generate a gradient field in the asymmetrically positioned imaging region, at least one gradient axis having the gradient field with a constant offset component such that the position at which the gradient field passes through zero is offset with respect to the imaging isocentre of the asymmetrically positioned imaging region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Geron Andre BINDSEIL, Blaine Alexander CHRONIK, Ian Robert Oliphant CONNELL, Andrew Thomas CURTIS, William Bradfield HANDLER, Chad Tyler HARRIS, Jeff Alan STAINSBY, Philip J. BEATTY
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Patent number: 11300643Abstract: Some implementations provide a system that includes: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be image is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; one or more gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; one or more pulse generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; one or more shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Jeff Alan Stainsby, Chad Tyler Harris
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Patent number: 11266326Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and using magnetic resonance (“MR”) visible labels or markers to encode information unique to the subject or object being imaged by a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system are provided. The use of such MR-visible labels or markers enables unique information associated with the subject or object being imaged to be encoded into the images of the subject or object. This information can be used to anonymize protected health information (“PHI”); to provide detailed information about a surgical simulation device, quality assurance phantom, or the like; to provide spatial orientation and registration information; or so on.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Kelly Noel Dyer, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Fergal Kerins
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Publication number: 20220050160Abstract: An automatic protocolling system and methods involving a processor operable by way of a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a nontransient memory device, the set of executable instructions configuring the processor to: receive information relating to an initial protocol comprising an initial ordering of a plurality of sequences, the information comprising data relating to an interaction extent value of at least one of an imaging system and a patient as a function of time corresponding to each sequence in the plurality of sequences, the data relating to a time-integrated effect of each sequence in the plurality of sequences; and dynamically determine an alternative protocol comprising an alternative ordering of the plurality of sequences based on the time-integrated effect, whereby an alternative protocol is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Chad Tyler HARRIS, Jeff Alan STAINSBY, Andrew Thomas CURTIS, Philip J. BEATTY, Curtis Nathan WIENS
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Patent number: 11243283Abstract: An asymmetric electromagnet system, method, and method of producing an asymmetric electromagnet system, wherein the asymmetric electromagnet system is for generating an imaging magnetic field in an imaging region with an imaging isocentre, the imaging region being asymmetrically positioned within a gradient coil bore inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during imaging, the electromagnet assembly comprising: an asymmetric gradient coil configured to generate a gradient field in the asymmetrically positioned imaging region, at least one gradient axis having the gradient field with a constant offset component such that the position at which the gradient field passes through zero is offset with respect to the imaging isocentre of the asymmetrically positioned imaging region.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.Inventors: Geron Andre Bindseil, Blaine Alexander Chronik, Ian Robert Oliphant Connell, Andrew Thomas Curtis, William Bradfield Handler, Chad Tyler Harris, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Philip J. Beatty