Patents by Inventor Karin Toepfer

Karin Toepfer 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: 20230306657
    Abstract: A machine learning network is trained to generate a noise field image from a radiographic (x-ray) image. The training includes accessing a number of previously acquired radiographic images, duplicating the previously acquired radiographic images, and conditioning each of the duplicated images with simulated noise content to form a plurality of simulated low-exposure images. Each of the simulated low-exposure images is paired with its corresponding previously acquired image to form a learning pair. The machine learning network is trained to generate a noise field image using the learning pairs of images. A noise suppressed image of an object can be generated by applying a scaling factor to at least a portion of the corresponding noise field image and combining the scaled noise field image with a current captured image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: William J. SEHNERT, Karin TOEPFER, Levon O. VOGELSANG, Lori L. BARSKI
  • Patent number: 11452491
    Abstract: A method for exposure control setup for a volume radiographic imaging apparatus obtains a reconstructed image volume of a subject acquired from the imaging apparatus using a set of x-ray technique settings. An image slice from the reconstructed image volume displays in at least a first rendering having a first corresponding noise factor and a second rendering having a second corresponding noise factor, different from the first noise factor. An operator instruction selects one of the at least first and second renderings and stores the corresponding noise factor for the set of x-ray technique settings. An automatic exposure control of the imaging apparatus is configured according to the stored noise factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Karin Toepfer
  • Publication number: 20210000440
    Abstract: A method for exposure control setup for a volume radiographic imaging apparatus obtains a reconstructed image volume of a subject acquired from the imaging apparatus using a set of x-ray technique settings. An image slice from the reconstructed image volume displays in at least a first rendering having a first corresponding noise factor and a second rendering having a second corresponding noise factor, different from the first noise factor. An operator instruction selects one of the at least first and second renderings and stores the corresponding noise factor for the set of x-ray technique settings. An automatic exposure control of the imaging apparatus is configured according to the stored noise factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Karin TOEPFER
  • Patent number: 10732301
    Abstract: A digital radiographic detector outputs positive read out signals that may oscillate. The presence of negative going portions of the read out signals may be used to determine that the detected positive signals are a result of noise, while an absence of the negative going portions may be used to determine that x-rays are impacting the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Scott, Eric M. Welch, Karin Toepfer
  • Publication number: 20190310382
    Abstract: A digital radiographic detector outputs positive read out signals that may oscillate. The presence of negative going portions of the read out signals may be used to determine that the detected positive signals are a result of noise, while an absence of the negative going portions may be used to determine that x-rays are impacting the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Richard T. SCOTT, Eric M. WELCH, Karin TOEPFER
  • Patent number: 10219774
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, William J. Sehnert, Karin Toepfer
  • Publication number: 20180333129
    Abstract: A method for exposure control setup for a volume radiographic imaging apparatus obtains a reconstructed image volume of a subject acquired from the imaging apparatus using a set of x-ray technique settings. An image slice from the reconstructed image volume displays in at least a first rendering having a first corresponding noise factor and a second rendering having a second corresponding noise factor, different from the first noise factor. An operator instruction selects one of the at least first and second renderings and stores the corresponding noise factor for the set of x-ray technique settings. An automatic exposure control of the imaging apparatus is configured according to the stored noise factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventor: Karin Toepfer
  • Publication number: 20180296179
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yuan LIN, William J. SEHNERT, Karin TOEPFER
  • Patent number: 10028720
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, William J. Sehnert, Karin Toepfer
  • Publication number: 20160095569
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, William J. Sehnert, Karin Toepfer