Patents by Inventor Jochen Franke

Jochen Franke 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: 10191130
    Abstract: A device for alternating examination of a measurement object (170) by means of MPI and MRI with two magnetic field-generating elements is presented. The device is characterized by a main magnet coil system with two coaxial partial coil systems (100a1, 100a2; 100b2, 100b1) arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a central plane running perpendicularly to the z-axis through the first volume under investigation (162). The volumes under investigation are superimposed. A polarity reversal device (190) reverses the polarity of the current through a partial coil system and the main magnet coil system generates a homogeneous magnetic field of at least sixth order in the first volume under investigation when the partial coil systems have identical polarity, and a spatially strongly varying magnetic field profile in the second volume under investigation when the polarities are opposite. Repositioning of the measurement object is thereby simplified or can even be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BRUKER BIOSPIN MRI GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Patent number: 10172587
    Abstract: A phantom system has a housing (2) with a lower part (3) having an opening in the z-direction and a cover part (4) for closing the opening of the housing (2). A first plate-shaped insert element (10a) has at least one depression (11a) for receiving a liquid substance. The lower part (3) and the cover part (4) delimit a cavity (5) with an insert area (8), which is constituted to receive the first insert element (10a). A first sealing element (14a) seals the first insert element (10a) against the cavity (5) and a fixing facility fixes the first insert element (10a) in the cavity (4) of the housing (2) in an operating state of the MPI phantom. The phantom permits good contrast in MPI, MRI, or ?CT using liquid contrast media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Ulrich Heinen
  • Publication number: 20180128598
    Abstract: A system for orientating point cloud data of a first surface relative to base reference data of a structure includes an input source generator adapted to provide the point cloud data, a tilt-correction means for orientating the point cloud data relative to the base reference data, a data editing means to filter spurious point data from the point cloud data, and a volume measurement means to measure the volume of objects that are non-fixably connected to the surface to segment the non-fixably connected objects from the point cloud data. The first surface is the surface of a wear liner. After orientation of the point cloud data with the base reference data, the surface displacement of the first surface to a second surface of the base reference substantially distinct from the first surface can be calculated to identify the thickness of the wear liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti, Jochen Franke
  • Patent number: 9927500
    Abstract: Device for alternating examination of a measurement object (103) by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements (101,102; 201,202; 801a,801b,811,812) generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region (104) and in the second examination region (105), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus (106) by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Patent number: 9829308
    Abstract: A method for measuring the displacement of a surface relative to a base reference. The method includes generating point cloud data between a reference point and a surface disposed distally from the reference point to define a three dimensional image of the surface. The method also includes determining the location and direction of key reference parameters of the object defined by the three dimensional image from the point cloud data. The method also includes obtaining base reference data in a prescribed co-ordinate system in respect of a base reference relative to the surface. Further, the method provides for processing the point cloud data and the base reference data, orientating the point cloud data relative to the key reference parameters defined by the base reference data and transforming the point cloud data into a co-ordinate system coinciding with the base reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OUTOTEC PTY LTD
    Inventors: Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti, Jochen Franke
  • Publication number: 20170276473
    Abstract: A system for orientating point cloud data of a first surface relative to base reference data of a structure includes an input source generator adapted to provide the point cloud data, a tilt-correction means for orientating the point cloud data relative to the base reference data, a data editing means to filter spurious point data from the point cloud data, and a volume measurement means to measure the volume of objects that are non-fixably connected to the surface to segment the non-fixably connected objects from the point cloud data. The first surface is the surface of a wear liner. After orientation of the point cloud data with the base reference data, the surface displacement of the first surface to a second surface of the base reference substantially distinct from the first surface can be calculated to identify the thickness of the wear liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti, Jochen Franke
  • Patent number: 9625253
    Abstract: A system for orientating scan cloud data of a surface relative to base reference data is provided. The orientating system includes an input source generator adapted to provide the scan cloud data, a tilt-correction means for orientating the point cloud data relative to the base reference data, and a data editing means for filtering spurious point data from the accumulated point cloud data, wherein the base reference data represents at least geometrical parameters of a base reference, the base reference being substantially distinct from the target surface. A system for identifying features in scan could data of a surface is also provided. The identifying system includes an input source generator adapted to provide the scan cloud data, and a partitioning means for partitioning the point cloud data into discrete segments corresponding to different geometric sections of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti, Jochen Franke
  • Publication number: 20160278735
    Abstract: A phantom system has a housing (2) with a lower part (3) having an opening in the z-direction and a cover part (4) for closing the opening of the housing (2). A first plate-shaped insert element (10a) has at least one depression (11a) for receiving a liquid substance. The lower part (3) and the cover part (4) delimit a cavity (5) with an insert area (8), which is constituted to receive the first insert element (10a). A first sealing element (14a) seals the first insert element (10a) against the cavity (5) and a fixing facility fixes the first insert element (10a) in the cavity (4) of the housing (2) in an operating state of the MPI phantom. The phantom permits good contrast in MPI, MRI, or ?CT using liquid contrast media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Ulrich Heinen
  • Publication number: 20160216353
    Abstract: An MPI-apparatus comprising a magnet system for generating a time-varying and position-dependent magnetic field and a detection system detecting signals from MPI contrast agents exposed to said magnetic field within a detection volume, said signals being suitable for reconstructing an image of the spatial and temporal distribution of said MPI contrast agents, is characterized in that the magnet system comprises an array with a plurality of permanent magnetic elements geometrically arranged in such a way that at least a part of the plurality of permanent magnetic elements are moved with sufficient speed in the vicinity of the detection volume to create the spatial and temporal magnetic field variations for inducing within the contrast agent the MPI signals recorded by the detection system. This avoids the high power requirements of current MPI scanners, while opening the way for higher spatial resolutions and variable scanning frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ulrich Heinen, Jochen Franke
  • Publication number: 20150316628
    Abstract: A device for alternating examination of a measurement object (170) by means of MPI and MRI with two magnetic field-generating elements is presented. The device is characterized by a main magnet coil system with two coaxial partial coil systems (100a1, 100a2; 100b2, 100b1) arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a central plane running perpendicularly to the z-axis through the first volume under investigation (162). The volumes under investigation are superimposed. A polarity reversal device (190) reverses the polarity of the current through a partial coil system and the main magnet coil system generates a homogeneous magnetic field of at least sixth order in the first volume under investigation when the partial coil systems have identical polarity, and a spatially strongly varying magnetic field profile in the second volume under investigation when the polarities are opposite. Repositioning of the measurement object is thereby simplified or can even be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Publication number: 20150285875
    Abstract: Device for alternating examination of a measurement object (103) by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements (101,102; 201,202; 801a,801b,811,812) generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region (104) and in the second examination region (105), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus (106) by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Publication number: 20130231892
    Abstract: A system for measuring the displacement of a surface in a material handling system relative to a base reference is provided. The system includes scanning means to generate point cloud data of the surface relative to a reference point to define a three-dimensional image of the surface, storage means to store base reference data in respect of the base reference, and processing means to process the point cloud data and the base reference data to determine the relative displacement of the surface with respect to the base reference. The processing means includes a referencing means to orientate the point cloud data relative to key reference data of the base surface and transforming the point cloud data and the base reference data into a common co-ordinate system, and displacement processing means to calculate the displacement between the surface and the base reference using both sets of data in the co-ordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Scanalyse Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti
  • Publication number: 20120217357
    Abstract: A method of and system for, monitoring the condition of a surface of a crushing zone (17) within a crusher (8) having an inlet through which material for crushing is delivered into the crushing zone, the method comprising: positioning a scanning device (31) at a first position to scan a first portion of the surface; and moving the scanning device (31) to a second position to scan a second portion of the surface. The method further comprises moving the scanning device (31) to one or more further positions to scan one or more further portions of the surface to assume all necessary positions for scanning the entire target surface. The scanning device (31) may be positioned externally of the crushing zone or within the crushing zone. Where the scanning device (31) is positioned externally of the crushing zone (17), the scan may be directed through the inlet to the portion of the surface being scanned. The method may further comprise supporting the scanning device (31) at the respective position on a support (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Jochen Franke
  • Publication number: 20100131234
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the displacement of a surface relative to a base reference, as well as for mapping the displacement of the surface relative to the base reference. A laser scanner generates point cloud data in respect of a measure of the spatial orientation of a distal surface relative to a reference point to define a three-dimensional image of the surface. Reference data is stored in respect of the spatial orientation of a base reference relative to the surface. processing means to process said point cloud data and said base reference data to determine the relative displacement of said surface with respect to said base reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: SCANALYSE PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti, Jochen Franke