Patents by Inventor Mark A. Richard

Mark A. Richard 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: 6400155
    Abstract: An MRI control system for controlling the operation of an MRI scanner from within an RF shielded MRI exam room in which the MRI scanner is located includes an MRI compatible infrared remote control device located within the MRI exam room for producing infrared control signals within the MRI exam room. An infrared receiver is positioned for receiving infrared control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device and producing electrical control signals in response thereto. An MRI controller located outside the MRI exam room is operatively connected to the infrared receiver for receiving control information. The MRI controller is operatively connected to the MRI scanner for controlling the MRI scanner and receiving scan information and the MRI controller operable to control operation of the MRI scanner in response to control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device based upon control information received from the infrared receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Kormos, Mark A. Richard
  • Publication number: 20010035752
    Abstract: An MRI control system for controlling the operation of an MRI scanner from within an RF shielded MRI exam room in which the MRI scanner is located includes an MRI compatible infrared remote control device located within the MRI exam room for producing infrared control signals within the MRI exam room. An infrared receiver is positioned for receiving infrared control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device and producing electrical control signals in response thereto. An MRI controller located outside the MRI exam room is operatively connected to the infrared receiver for receiving control information. The MRI controller is operatively connected to the MRI scanner for controlling the MRI scanner and receiving scan information and the MRI controller operable to control operation of the MRI scanner in response to control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device based upon control information received from the infrared receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: Donald W. Kormos, Mark A. Richard
  • Patent number: 6198285
    Abstract: An MRI control system for controlling the operation of an MRI scanner from within an RF shielded MRI exam room in which the MRI scanner is located includes an MRI compatible infrared remote control device located within the MRI exam room for producing infrared control signals within the MRI exam room. An infrared receiver is positioned for receiving infrared control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device and producing electrical control signals in response thereto. An MRI controller located outside the MRI exam room is operatively connected to the infrared receiver for receiving control information. The MRI controller is operatively connected to the MRI scanner for controlling the MRI scanner and receiving scan information and the MRI controller operable to control operation of the MRI scanner in response to control signals emitted by the infrared remote control device based upon control information received from the infrared receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Kormos, Mark A. Richard
  • Patent number: 6144203
    Abstract: A coil assembly for use in MRI imaging includes a harness having a base. First and second arm members extend from a first side of the base and above and over the base and third and fourth arm members extend from a second side of the base and above and over the base. A first cross member extends between the first arm member and the second arm member and a second cross member extends between the third arm member and the fourth arm member. An end of the first arm member is aligned with and detachably connected to an end of the third arm member and an end of the second arm member is aligned with and detachably connected to an end of the fourth arm member. First and second coil members each extend along the harness. The first coil member may be a saddle coil and the second coil member may be a solenoid coil configured to establish a quadrature arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Donald W. Kormos
  • Patent number: 5998999
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a main magnet (12) for generating a main magnetic field in an examination region (14) and a radio frequency coil assembly. The radio frequency coil assembly transmits radio frequency pulses into the examination region (14) to induce magnetic resonance in selected dipoles disposed therein. The radio frequency coil assembly also receives signals from selected resonating dipoles. The radio frequency coil assembly includes a birdcage coil (60) having a plurality of conductive elements (64) constructed on a dielectric form positioned about the examination region (14). The birdcage coil (60) includes a plurality of capacitors (C1-C24) and corresponding plurality of series connected diode inductor pairs connected in parallel with each capacitor to form resonant trap circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Theodore J. Reisker
  • Patent number: 5990681
    Abstract: A snap-in, whole-body radio frequency coil (38) for increasing the diameter of a bore (12) of a toroidal magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a plurality of longitudinally extending coil elements (42) having element ends (44). The longitudinally extending coil elements are disposed on a flat, flexible, non-conductive plastic sheet (40) which is capable of being rolled and disposed concentricly in an interior diameter of the bore to form a thin-walled, bird-cage type radio frequency coil. Adjacent element ends are connected with a first capacitance C.sub.0 to resonate the coil at a certain frequency. To permit mechanically switching the resonant frequency of the coil, protruding metal contacts (60) are electrically connected to the element ends. An adjustment end ring includes separated metal pads (66) disposed on a non-conducting ring substrate (64). Adjacent metal pads are connected with second capacitances C.sub.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Nicholas J. Mastandrea
  • Patent number: 5952830
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (10) includes a primary magnet assembly for generating a temporarily constant magnetic field through an examination region (20), a gradient coil assembly for inducing magnetic field gradients across the examination region (20), and a radio frequency coil for receiving resonance signals from the examination region. The gradient coil assembly includes a coil carrying member (22) carrying first (44) and second (46) spaced apart gradient coil portions which are physically separated from each other on the coil carrying member to define at least one azimuthally directed gap (48, 50, 52, 54) extending along the coil carrying member between said first and second gradient coil portions. The first and second coil portions are disposed towards opposite top and bottom sides of the examination region and have internal windings therein for generating gradient magnetic field components along at least two mutually orthogonal axes (X, Y) in the examination region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Labros S. Petropoulos, Nicholas J. Mastandrea, Mark A. Richard
  • Patent number: 5804968
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a main field magnet (12) for generating a temporally constant magnetic field through an examination region. A radio frequency transmitter (84) excites and manipulates magnetic resonance in selected dipoles in the examination region. A receiver (90) demodulates magnetic resonance signals received from the examination region, a processor (74) reconstructs the demodulated resonance signals into an image representation. A plurality of fingerprint gradient magnetic field coils (24, 26) induce gradient magnetic fields across the temporally constant magnetic field. Each of the fingerprint gradient coils (24, 26) includes a generally spiral winding (32A-32D) having a first crossectional dimension (H) perpendicular to the temporally constant magnetic field which is at least twice a second crossectional dimension (W) in a direction parallel to the temporally constant magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Nicholas J. Mastandrea, Jr., David A. Lampman
  • Patent number: 5783943
    Abstract: A trolley cage (58) selectively positions an insert gradient coil (56) along a patient beam (38) of a magnetic resonance apparatus (A). The trolley cage (58) includes a lower cage assembly (62) surrounding a first exterior surface portion of the insert gradient coil (56), an upper cage assembly (60) removably secured to the lower cage assembly (62) and surrounding a second exterior surface portion of the insert gradient coil (56), and a number of wheels (90) secured to the lower cage assembly (62) for permitting the trolley cage (58) to roll along a patient beam (38) extending through an examination region of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (A). The trolley cage (58) also includes a number of pneumatic latching mechanisms (92) for locking the trolley cage (58) to the patient beam (38) when the insert gradient coil (56) is positioned at isocenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Mastandrea, Jr., Mark A. Richard
  • Patent number: 5592087
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet assembly (10) for generating a temporally constant primary magnetic field through a central bore (14). The central bore is surrounded by a gradient coil assembly (30) including a dielectric former (32) and gradient coils (34, 36, 38) for generating magnetic field gradient pulses across the examination region. A radio frequency coil assembly (50) including a birdcage coil (52) is mounted inside of the gradient coil assembly and surrounding the examination region. A radio frequency shield (60) includes a dielectric sheet (62) having a plurality of first metal foil strips (72) defined on each surface. The metal strips are defined by etching or cutting gaps (70) in a continuous sheet of copper foil, leaving bridges (74) across the gaps adjacent opposite ends of the foil strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Xueming Zou, Michael A. Morich
  • Patent number: 5550472
    Abstract: A toroidal housing (18), such as a vacuum dewar, contains magnets (10, 12) for generating a temporally constant magnetic field through a central bore (14). Gradient coils (32, 42) are mounted around the bore defining a space therebetween. A radio frequency shield (78) is disposed radially inward from the gradient coils. Inside the radio frequency shield, an inner shimming assembly (60) includes a dielectric cylinder (62) having annular grooves around its periphery. Segmented ferrous material (66) is arranged in annular rings in the grooves. The ferrous material is segmented into small pieces electrically insulated from each other to limit radio frequency and gradient frequency eddy currents. A radio frequency coil (70) is mounted inside of the annular ferrous shims (66). Preferably, additional shim trays (50) which carry shims (54) are mounted in the space between the primary and secondary gradient coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Picker International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richard, Michael A. Morich, Labros S. Petropoulos
  • Patent number: 4232250
    Abstract: An improved erase cycle for direct-viewing bistable storage tubes that substantially eliminates the bright flash characteristic of conventional erasure methods. As applied to the backplate of a meshless storage tube, the improved cycle suitably comprises two or more short (about 2 to 10 ms) fade positive pulses separated by a negative, decaying recovery pulse about 50-100 ms in length and optionally, a "dead time" of about 200 ms at the target operating level. The final fade positive pulse is followed by a longer recovery interval that gradually increases the backplate voltage to its previous operating level while the flood guns retain the storage phosphor in an erased, unwritten condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Richards