Patents by Inventor Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter

Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter 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: 9960461
    Abstract: An system includes a first battery having a first desired operating temperature range between a first lower threshold temperature and a first upper threshold temperature and a second battery having a second desired operating temperature range between a second lower threshold temperature and a second upper threshold temperature. The system further includes a temperature control system coupled to the first and second batteries and configured to convey heat energy from the first battery to the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is less than the second lower threshold temperature to increase the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range and to convey heat energy away from the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is greater than the second upper threshold temperature to decrease the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 9835707
    Abstract: A method includes applying a preparatory radiofrequency (RF) pulse at a first time instant to a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner configured to scan an object comprising a plurality of chemical species. The method further includes applying a phase sensitive pulse sequence at a second time instant to the MR scanner, wherein the preparatory RF pulse and a time delay between the first and the second time instants null a first subset of chemical species from the plurality of chemical species. The method further includes receiving an output signal from a second subset of chemical species from the plurality of chemical species in response to the phase sensitive pulse sequence. The method also includes estimating a static magnetic field map based on the output signal from the second subset of chemical species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Desmond Teck Beng Yeo, Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter
  • Publication number: 20160061918
    Abstract: A method includes applying a preparatory radiofrequency (RF) pulse at a first time instant to a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner configured to scan an object comprising a plurality of chemical species. The method further includes applying a phase sensitive pulse sequence at a second time instant to the MR scanner, wherein the preparatory RF pulse and a time delay between the first and the second time instants null a first subset of chemical species from the plurality of chemical species. The method further includes receiving an output signal from a second subset of chemical species from the plurality of chemical species in response to the phase sensitive pulse sequence. The method also includes estimating a static magnetic field map based on the output signal from the second subset of chemical species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Desmond Teck Beng Yeo, Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 8981778
    Abstract: A method of generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image includes applying a localized magnetic field to a portion of a patient, determining a difference between a local field strength around a first region of interest and a local field strength around a different second region of interest, adjusting the local field strength around the first region of interest such that the local field strength around the first region of interest is substantially the same as the local field strength around the second region of interest, and generating an image of the first and second regions after adjusting the local field strength around the first second region of interest. A coil apparatus and a system are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Seung-Kyun Lee, Ileana Hancu, Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 8326010
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for a multi-echo acquisition technique capable of obtaining separate water only and fat only images in anatomies having large time-varying phase disturbances. This multi-echo technique is also useful in anatomies where magnetic field inhomogeneity is significant. Also provided is a system, which is capable of producing a reconstructed complex water image whose phase component maintains the temperature dependent phase information. Similarly, the reconstructed fat image maintains the phase information pertaining to the time-varying phase disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo, Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg Davis, Desmond Teck Beng Yeo
  • Publication number: 20120274326
    Abstract: A method of generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image includes applying a localized magnetic field to a portion of a patient, determining a difference between a local field strength around a first region of interest and a local field strength around a different second region of interest, adjusting the local field strength around the first region of interest such that the local field strength around the first region of interest is substantially the same as the local field strength around the second region of interest, and generating an image of the first and second regions after adjusting the local field strength around the first second region of interest. A coil apparatus and a system are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: SEUNG-KYUN LEE, ILEANA HANCU, LORNE WYATT HOFSTETTER
  • Publication number: 20110268332
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for a multi-echo acquisition technique capable of obtaining separate water only and fat only images in anatomies having large time-varying phase disturbances. This multi-echo technique is also useful in anatomies where magnetic field inhomogeneity is significant. Also provided is a system, which is capable of producing a reconstructed complex water image whose phase component maintains the temperature dependent phase information. Similarly, the reconstructed fat image maintains the phase information pertaining to the time-varying phase disturbances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo, Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg Davis, Desmond Teck Beng Yeo
  • Publication number: 20100089547
    Abstract: An system includes a first battery having a first desired operating temperature range between a first lower threshold temperature and a first upper threshold temperature and a second battery having a second desired operating temperature range between a second lower threshold temperature and a second upper threshold temperature. The system further includes a temperature control system coupled to the first and second batteries and configured to convey heat energy from the first battery to the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is less than the second lower threshold temperature to increase the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range and to convey heat energy away from the second battery when the temperature of the second battery is greater than the second upper threshold temperature to decrease the temperature of the second battery toward the second desired operating temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter
  • Patent number: D635629
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Lorne Wyatt Hofstetter