Patents by Inventor John Saunders

John Saunders 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: 20230333182
    Abstract: The present application relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging device comprising a cylindrical gradient coil apparatus, a radio frequency coil apparatus configured to transmit radio frequency signals at a first frequency, and a first shielding apparatus comprising a first shielding layer arranged radially between the gradient coil apparatus and the radio frequency coil apparatus; and a patient table device comprising a table portion configured for a patient to lie on it, and a second shielding apparatus arranged around at least a portion of the table portion, wherein when the magnetic resonance imaging device is engaged with the patient table device, the first shielding apparatus is in electrical contact with the second shielding apparatus to form a cutoff waveguide which is capable of cutting off radio frequency signals at frequencies below a second frequency, the second frequency being greater than the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Haoqin ZHU, John SAUNDERS, Gordon A. KLIMENKO, Darrell VAN MOL
  • Publication number: 20230190211
    Abstract: Described herein is a positron emission tomography (PET) detector array that has a plurality of detector elements, with each detector element mounted on a resilient, rigid support surface. A detector element movement system is connected to each rigid support surface, so that each detector element can be moved independently. This allows for the relative position of the individual detectors to be changed during imaging so that the imaging window can be increased or decreased during imaging, thereby allowing for improved, better resolution imaging of smaller volumes if desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: James Schellenberg, John Saunders
  • Patent number: 11653996
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute (Hefei) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, Haoqin Zhu, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders
  • Publication number: 20230120676
    Abstract: An upper coil assembly for use with a lower RF coil assembly mounted to provide an RF probe arranged to be engaged with a head of a patient in MRI includes a plurality of coil loops arranged in a row defining a phase shift coil array with each coil loop including an independent output conductor for communicating signals to a respective preamplifier for independent amplification and each coil loop including a plurality of capacitors at spaced positions therearound. To decouple the loops each coil loop partly overlaps a next coil loop with a first decoupling capacitor shared on a common portion of each coil loop and each next coil loop. The first and third coil loops are also decoupled by using third decoupling capacitor in a connecting conductor between the first and third coil loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, Haoqin Zhu, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders
  • Publication number: 20230098909
    Abstract: A current sensing noise thermometer comprising: a sensor resistor thermally coupled to a target to be measured; a superconducting coil; superconducting thermal breaks between respective ends of the sensor resistor and respective ends of the superconducting coil; and a superconducting flux sensor; wherein the sensor resistor, superconducting coil and superconducting thermal breaks form a loop inductively coupled to the superconducting flux sensor. There may be a noise filter between the sensor resistor and the superconducting coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew James CASEY, John SAUNDERS, Lev Vitalievich LEVITIN, Harriet VAN DER VLIET
  • Publication number: 20220296196
    Abstract: Described herein is a method to measure the position of the PET System using the MRI, through the use of MRI coils and fiducials. This approach offers a route to automated calibration which is more flexible than other approaches. This method of position measurement is useful for example in systems which have moving or removeable PET readout board systems or moving or removeable PET scintillator blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Vanessa Palmer, John Saunders, Ryan Sparkes, James Schellenberg, Graham Schellenberg
  • Publication number: 20220280041
    Abstract: In order to improve both spatial resolution and sensitivity for brain research and clinical activity, we have designed a combined PET/MRI insert for brain scanning, referred to herein as a “BrainPET insert” that can be fit onto and into a suitable MRI system. The BrainPET Insert comprises, in order, a receive (Rx) coil positioned within and adjacent to a transmit (Tx) coil and a PET ring, wherein both the Rx coil and the Tx coil are within the PET ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Goertzen, John Saunders, James Schellenberg, Ryan Sparkes, Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11369453
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute (Hefei) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, John Saunders, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol
  • Patent number: 10987189
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute (Hefei) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders, Gong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200246106
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, John Saunders, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol
  • Publication number: 20200246095
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, John Saunders, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, Philippe Magown
  • Publication number: 20200249289
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, Haoqin Zhu, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders
  • Publication number: 20200249293
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: John Saunders, Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, Gong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200249290
    Abstract: Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gordon A. Klimenko, Darrell Van Mol, John Saunders, Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10693158
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
  • Patent number: 10680261
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders
  • Patent number: 10637250
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and building block modules for modular power generation facilities are disclosed. A modular power generation facility includes a plurality of primary modules and a control system. Each primary module includes eight primary corners and an interior space. The modules are positioned in a vertical stack and are attached together to form a substantially modular enclosure for the generation of electricity. The modules include gen-set modules, each having an engine-generator and a fuel tank disposed in the interior, and a switchgear module having switchgear ganged to the gen-set modules. The control system communicates with the gen-set modules to coordinate the engine-generators as a unit and to control the loading of each of the generators in response to a power load demand. The control system is disposed in one or more of the primary modules with at least part of the control system being disposed in the switchgear module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PowerSecure, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Paine, Will Dickinson, John Saunders, Bill Brown, Bobby Ferrick, Jeff Courliss, Justin Moore
  • Patent number: 10340697
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and building block modules for modular power generation facilities are disclosed. A multi-stack modular power generation facility includes first and second pluralities of primary modules and first and second control systems. The first modules are positioned in a first stack to form a first vertical enclosure; the second modules are positioned in a second stack to form a second vertical enclosure; and the first and second modules each include gen-set modules, each with an engine-generator, and a switchgear module ganged to the gen-set modules. Each control system communicates with the respective gen-set modules to coordinate the engine-generators as a unit and to control the loading of each of the generators in response to a power load demand. The second plurality of primary modules are disposed immediately adjacent the first plurality of primary modules such that the second vertical enclosure abuts the first vertical enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PowerSecure, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Paine, Will Dickinson, John Saunders, Bill Brown, Bobby Ferrick, Jeff Courliss, Justin Moore
  • Patent number: 10340696
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and building block modules for modular power generation facilities are disclosed. A method of erecting a modular power generation facility includes producing a plurality of primary modules, each including a housing adapted from an intermodal shipping container having posts, rails, and sills connected together by shipping container corner castings; shipping the primary modules, which include gen-set modules and a switchgear module, to an installation location; positioning the primary modules in a vertical stack; attaching the primary modules to one another in the vertical stack; interconnecting the engine-generators of the one or more gen-set modules with the switchgear of the switchgear module; and operating the engine-generators and the switchgear to provide electricity to a transformer connected to the switchgear in response to a power load demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PowerSecure, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles Paine, Will Dickinson, John Saunders, Bill Brown, Bobby Ferrick, Jeff Courliss, Justin Moore
  • Publication number: 20190131640
    Abstract: A fuel cell system and corresponding methods are provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack configured for in-block reforming, as well as a pre-reformer. The fuel cell stack may include a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack may also include a fuel supply manifold, a fuel exhaust manifold, an oxidant supply manifold, and an oxidant exhaust manifold. The fuel supply manifold may be configured to receive fuel, and to supply the fuel to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The fuel exhaust manifold may be configured to expel fuel exhaust from the fuel cell stack. The oxidant supply manifold may be configured to receive an oxidant and to supply the oxidant to the fuel cell stack for in-block reforming. The oxidant exhaust manifold may be configured to expel oxidant exhaust from the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Bozzolo, Robert Hay Cunningham, Gary John Saunders