Patents by Inventor Mark David Fries
Mark David Fries 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).
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Publication number: 20240215933Abstract: A distributed data collection architecture for a PET system includes a plurality of data collection boards, wherein each data collection board is coupled to a respective gantry segment of the PET system. The PET system includes a modular gantry having a plurality of gantry segments that are physically separate from each other, and each gantry segment includes a plurality of detector modules coupled to a respective data collection board. Each respective data collection board is configured to acquire all detector event data from a respective plurality of detector modules of the respective gantry segment the respective data collection board is coupled to. Only one data collection board of the plurality of data collection boards is configured to act as a master data collection board that collects all of the detector event data from each data collection board and to generate coincidence pairs from all of the detector event data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Mahesh Raman Narayanaswamy, Mark David Fries, Jorge Uribe, Avichay Bdolah, Avihai Radi
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Patent number: 9927539Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector having a surface, plural pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on the surface. Each pixelated anode is configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon by the pixelated anode and to generate at least one secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes. The at least one processor configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire signals corresponding to acquisition events from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for the acquisition events using the signals; and apply at least one calibration parameter on a per sub-pixel basis for the acquisition events based on the determined sub-pixel locations.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2017Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arie Shahar, Mark David Fries, Yaron Glazer, Avishai Ofan
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Publication number: 20170269240Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector having a surface, plural pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on the surface. Each pixelated anode is configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon by the pixelated anode and to generate at least one secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes. The at least one processor configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire signals corresponding to acquisition events from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for the acquisition events using the signals; and apply at least one calibration parameter on a per sub-pixel basis for the acquisition events based on the determined sub-pixel locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Arie Shahar, Mark David Fries, Yaron Glazer, Avishai Ofan
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Patent number: 9734603Abstract: A radiation detection system includes a detector unit and at least one processor. The detector unit is configured to generate signals responsive to radiation. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the detector unit and configured to receive the signals from the detector unit. The at least one processor is configured to obtain, during an imaging process, a first count for at least one of the signals corresponding to a first intrinsic energy window, the first energy window corresponding to values higher than an intrinsic peak value; obtain a second count for the at least one of the signals corresponding to a second intrinsic energy window, the second energy window corresponding to values lower than the intrinsic peak value; and adjust a gain applied to the signals based on at least the first count and the second count.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Mark David Fries, Tuoyu Cao
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Patent number: 9696440Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is provided including a semiconductor detector, pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on a surface of the semiconductor detector, and configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon and a secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes, and configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire primary signals and secondary signals from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for acquisition events using the primary and secondary signals; generate a sub-pixel energy spectrum for each sub-pixel; apply at least one energy calibration parameter to adjust the sub-pixel energy spectra for each pixelated anode; and, for each pixelated anode, combine the adjusted sub-pixel energy spectra to provide a pixelated anode spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arie Shahar, Mark David Fries, Yaron Glazer, Jeffrey Michael Levy, Avishai Ofan, Rotem Har-Lavan
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Publication number: 20170018099Abstract: A radiation detection system includes a detector unit and at least one processor. The detector unit is configured to generate signals responsive to radiation. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the detector unit and configured to receive the signals from the detector unit. The at least one processor is configured to obtain, during an imaging process, a first count for at least one of the signals corresponding to a first intrinsic energy window, the first energy window corresponding to values higher than an intrinsic peak value; obtain a second count for the at least one of the signals corresponding to a second intrinsic energy window, the second energy window corresponding to values lower than the intrinsic peak value; and adjust a gain applied to the signals based on at least the first count and the second count.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Floribertus P.M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Mark David Fries, Tuoyu Cao
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Patent number: 9508165Abstract: A radiation detection system includes a detector unit and at least one processor. The detector unit is configured to generate signals responsive to radiation events. The at least one processor receives the signals, and is configured to obtain a first count for at least one of the signals corresponding to a first energy window, the first energy window corresponding to values higher than a nominal peak value; obtain a second count for the at least one of the signals corresponding to a second energy window, the second energy window corresponding to values lower than the nominal peak value; obtain at least one auxiliary count for the at least one of the signals corresponding to at least one auxiliary energy window; and adjust a gain applied to the signals based on the first count, the second count, and the at least one auxiliary count.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Floribertus P. M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Chang Lyong Kim, Mark David Fries, Timothy Wayne Deller, Mohammad Mehdi Khalighi
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Publication number: 20160245934Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is provided including a semiconductor detector, pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on a surface of the semiconductor detector, and configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon and a secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes, and configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire primary signals and secondary signals from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for acquisition events using the primary and secondary signals; generate a sub-pixel energy spectrum for each sub-pixel; apply at least one energy calibration parameter to adjust the sub-pixel energy spectra for each pixelated anode; and, for each pixelated anode, combine the adjusted sub-pixel energy spectra to provide a pixelated anode spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Arie Shahar, Mark David Fries, Yaron Glazer, Jeffrey Michael Levy, Avishai Ofan, Rotem Har-Lavan
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Patent number: 9151851Abstract: A multiplexing circuit for a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes a delay circuit and a multiplexer communicating with the delay circuit. The delay circuit configured to receive a plurality of timing pickoff (TPO) signals from a plurality of positron emission tomography (PET) detector units, add a delay time to at least one of the plurality of TPO signals, and transmit the TPO signals based on the delay time to the multiplexer, the multiplexer configured to a multiplex the TPO signals and output a single TPO signal from the plurality of TPO signals to a Time-to-Digital Convertor (TDC). A method of operating a multiplexer and a imaging system including a multiplexer are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Fries, David Leo McDaniel
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Publication number: 20150001399Abstract: A multiplexing circuit for a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes a delay circuit and a multiplexer communicating with the delay circuit. The delay circuit configured to receive a plurality of timing pickoff (TPO) signals from a plurality of positron emission tomography (PET) detector units, add a delay time to at least one of the plurality of TPO signals, and transmit the TPO signals based on the delay time to the multiplexer, the multiplexer configured to a multiplex the TPO signals and output a single TPO signal from the plurality of TPO signals to a Time-to-Digital Convertor (TDC). A method of operating a multiplexer and a imaging system including a multiplexer are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Fries, David Leo McDaniel
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Patent number: 8822933Abstract: A timing circuit that includes a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) configured to receive a parallel rate clock signal and a system clock start signal from an imaging system and generate a first output, a second SERDES configured to receive a stop signal that is based on an output from the medical imaging system and generate a second output, and a timestamp calculator configured to utilize the first and second outputs to generate a timestamp. A medical imaging system and a method of operating a timing circuit are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Fries, James Widen, Paul Holtermann
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Patent number: 8779367Abstract: A method of correcting a timing signal that represents an arrival time of a photon at a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes receiving a timing signal that represents an arrival time of a photon at a PET detector, receiving an energy signal indicative of an energy of the photon, calculating a timing correction using the energy signal, modifying the timing signal using the timing correction, and generating an image of an object using the modified timing signal. A system and non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David L. McDaniel, Changlyong Kim, Mark David Fries
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Publication number: 20130341518Abstract: A timing circuit that includes a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) configured to receive a parallel rate clock signal and a system clock start signal from an imaging system and generate a first output, a second SERDES configured to receive a stop signal that is based on an output from the medical imaging system and generate a second output, and a timestamp calculator configured to utilize the first and second outputs to generate a timestamp. A medical imaging system and a method of operating a timing circuit are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Fries, James Widen, Paul Holtermann
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Publication number: 20130214168Abstract: A method of correcting a timing signal that represents an arrival time of a photon at a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes receiving a timing signal that represents an arrival time of a photon at a PET detector, receiving an energy signal indicative of an energy of the photon, calculating a timing correction using the energy signal, modifying the timing signal using the timing correction, and generating an image of an object using the modified timing signal. A system and non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: David McDaniel, Changlyong Kim, Mark David Fries
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Patent number: 7667199Abstract: A timing circuit for implementation in a medical imaging system such as a PET scanner, and a method of ascribing times to events in such systems, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the timing circuit includes an n-phase clock having n frequencies of operation, wherein the clock is selectable to provide n-signals that each vary at n frequencies, an n-phase counter including n counter elements coupled to the clock, an n-phase status detection circuit including n status circuits coupled to the n-phase clock, and an n-phase output circuit including n-registers coupled to the n-phase clock and respectively coupled to the n-phase counter and to n-phase status detection circuit, wherein n-registers respectively receive the n-clock signals, the n-count signals, and the n-status signals, respectively, and in response respectively provide n-output signals that collectively form an output signal indicative of a time at which the event detection signal experienced the first status change.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Mark David Fries
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Patent number: 6292919Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a communication system for transmitting high-speed data across an imaging system slip-ring. In one embodiment, the communication system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter generates encoded serial data that is transmitted across the slip-ring 1 bit at a time to the receiver. The encoded data includes command codes, message blocks having CRC data, and SYNC data. Using the commands codes, the receiver decodes the data into byte data. The receiver utilizes the CRC data to detect and correct errors in the transmitted data and the SYNC data to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1998Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Fries, Phil E. Pearson, Jr.