Patents by Inventor Martin Harder

Martin Harder 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: 11903691
    Abstract: A method to automatically align magnetic resonance (MR) scans for diagnostic scan planning includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) localizer image of an anatomical object. One or more initial landmarks are identified in the 3D localizer image using a landmarking engine. One or more main axes associated with the anatomical object are identified based on the one or more initial landmarks. The 3D localizer image is registered to a canonical space based on the main axes associated to yield a registered 3D localizer image. The landmarking engine is applied to the registered 3D localizer image to yield one or more updated landmarks. A plurality of reference points for performing a MR scan are computed based on the one or more updated landmarks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventors: Fitsum Aklilu Reda, Yiqiang Zhan, Martin Harder
  • Patent number: 11826135
    Abstract: In a method and system for automatically positioning a region of interest of a patient for a medical imaging examination in an isocenter of a medical imaging apparatus, the region of interest of the patient is brought into a patient receiving region of the medical imaging examination for a position-determination measurement, a position-determination measurement is performed to capture position-determination image data, the position-determination image data is analyzed to determine a position of the region of interest of the patient from the position-determination image data, and the patient is automatically positioned such that the position of the region of interest of the patient coincides with the position of the isocenter of the medical imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Harder
  • Patent number: 11061087
    Abstract: A method includes determining a position of a local coil, a coil position, and a position of a body part of a patient, a body part position. Spacing between the coil position and the body part position is determined. An optimized MR sequence is determined. Based on the determined spacing between the coil position and the body part position, it is checked that in a subsequent MR examination of the patient, a predetermined loading threshold value (e.g., an SAR value) is not exceeded. The optimization of the MR sequence thus takes place under the boundary condition that the loading threshold value is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: George William Ferguson, Martin Harder, Daniel Rinck
  • Publication number: 20210093221
    Abstract: In a method and system for automatically positioning a region of interest of a patient for a medical imaging examination in an isocenter of a medical imaging apparatus, the region of interest of the patient is brought into a patient receiving region of the medical imaging examination for a position-determination measurement, a position-determination measurement is performed to capture position-determination image data, the position-determination image data is analyzed to determine a position of the region of interest of the patient from the position-determination image data, and the patient is automatically positioned such that the position of the region of interest of the patient coincides with the position of the isocenter of the medical imaging apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Harder
  • Publication number: 20200025845
    Abstract: A method includes determining a position of a local coil, a coil position, and a position of a body part of a patient, a body part position. Spacing between the coil position and the body part position is determined. An optimized MR sequence is determined. Based on the determined spacing between the coil position and the body part position, it is checked that in a subsequent MR examination of the patient, a predetermined loading threshold value (e.g., an SAR value) is not exceeded. The optimization of the MR sequence thus takes place under the boundary condition that the loading threshold value is not exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: George William Ferguson, Martin Harder, Daniel Rinck
  • Publication number: 20190195977
    Abstract: Noise information describing general noise properties of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (MRIA) in an imaging volume is measured using a predetermined first magnetic resonance sequence. Patient image data is acquired in at least one imaging region of a patient using a predetermined second magnetic resonance sequence. An anatomical landmark of a group of predetermined anatomical landmarks is localized in the patient image data by a landmark detection algorithm. For landmarks, reference information regarding imaging quality information is provided in a database. A landmark-specific signal-to-noise ratio is determined for each localized landmark from the patient image data at the landmark and the noise information, and the imaging quality information is determined from the landmark-specific signal-to-noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Andre de Oliveira, Martin Harder, Stephan Kannengießer, Wilfried Landschütz
  • Patent number: 10302715
    Abstract: A flexible magnetic resonance coil apparatus, an applicator, and a method for arranging a magnetic resonance coil apparatus on an object under examination are provided. The magnetic resonance coil apparatus includes at least one coil element and at least one carrier structure. The at least one carrier structure is configured to adapt its geometric shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Gall, Andreas Greiser, Martin Harder, Stephan Zink
  • Publication number: 20190021625
    Abstract: A method to automatically align magnetic resonance (MR) scans for diagnostic scan planning includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) localizer image of an anatomical object. One or more initial landmarks are identified in the 3D localizer image using a landmarking engine. One or more main axes associated with the anatomical object are identified based on the one or more initial landmarks. The 3D localizer image is registered to a canonical space based on the main axes associated to yield a registered 3D localizer image. The landmarking engine is applied to the registered 3D localizer image to yield one or more updated landmarks. A plurality of reference points for performing a MR scan are computed based on the one or more updated landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Fitsum Aklilu Reda, Yiqiang Zhan, Martin Harder
  • Patent number: 10185018
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating planning of measurement volumes as a function of object motion during MRI examination of an object in which the planning images a specific subject/object anatomy by MRI, includes defining an object reference pose and a reference coordinate system for the reference pose at a time during MRI examination, with the reference coordinate system being used for planning the measurement volumes. During examination, information is obtained about an object pose change between a current object pose at the time and the reference pose. For each subsequent scan or single acquisition of imaging data during examination, pose change information is used for calculating a new coordinate system for the current pose and updating the planning of measurement volumes as a function of the new coordinate system so the imaged object anatomy remains the same throughout the scans or acquisitions of imaging data irrespective of object motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Martin Harder, Tobias Kober
  • Patent number: 10048331
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a local coil for an imaging magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil includes at least one displacement facility for a displacement of at least part of the local coil along at least axes running, in particular, in the axial patient direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Harder
  • Patent number: 9940713
    Abstract: A method for MRI inter-scan motion correction includes performing (i) an anatomical localizer scan of a region of interest (ROI) to identify anatomical landmarks defining orientation of a surrounding field-of-view (FOV); (ii) an inter-scan motion reference scan of the ROI to acquire a reference inter-scan dataset indicating a reference navigator location in the ROI; and (iii) scans of the ROI to acquire k-space data. Prior to one or more of the scans, a motion correction process is performed that includes (a) performing an inter-scan motion tracking scan to acquire a tracking inter-scan dataset indicating an updated reference navigator location; (b) determining an estimation of inter-scan patient motion based on a comparison between the reference inter-scan and tracking inter-scan datasets; and (c) updating the FOV relative to the landmarks based on that estimation. Images of the ROI may be generated using the k-space data acquired with each of the scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Himanshu Bhat, Keith Aaron Heberlein, Thomas Beck, Martin Harder, Andre Jan Willem Van Der Kouwe, Matthew Dylan Tisdall
  • Publication number: 20160377692
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance coil apparatus, a magnetic resonance apparatus and a method for handling a magnetic resonance coil apparatus are provided. The magnetic resonance coil apparatus includes a first coil unit and a second coil unit. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Gall, Andreas Greiser, Martin Harder, Katharina Hesels, Hans-Peter Hollenbach, Esther Raithel, Stephan Zink
  • Publication number: 20160363642
    Abstract: A flexible magnetic resonance coil apparatus, an applicator, and a method for arranging a magnetic resonance coil apparatus on an object under examination are provided. The magnetic resonance coil apparatus includes at least one coil element and at least one carrier structure. The at least one carrier structure is configured to adapt its geometric shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Gall, Andreas Greiser, Martin Harder, Stephan Zink
  • Publication number: 20160313432
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating planning of measurement volumes as a function of object motion during MRI examination of an object in which the planning images a specific subject/object anatomy by MRI, includes defining an object reference pose and a reference coordinate system for the reference pose at a time during MRI examination, with the reference coordinate system being used for planning the measurement volumes. During examination, information is obtained about an object pose change between a current object pose at the time and the reference pose. For each subsequent scan or single acquisition of imaging data during examination, pose change information is used for calculating a new coordinate system for the current pose and updating the planning of measurement volumes as a function of the new coordinate system so the imaged object anatomy remains the same throughout the scans or acquisitions of imaging data irrespective of object motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: THORSTEN FEIWEIER, MARTIN HARDER, TOBIAS KOBER
  • Patent number: 9471987
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating automatic planning for medical imaging. In accordance with one aspect, the framework receives first image data of a subject. One or more imaging parameters may then be derived using a geometric model and at least one reference anatomical primitive detected in the first image data. The geometric model defines a geometric relationship between the detected reference anatomical primitive and the one or more imaging parameters. The one or more imaging parameters may be presented, via a user interface, for use in acquisition, reconstruction or processing of second image data of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Harder, Yiqiang Zhan, Heiko Meyer, Shu Liao
  • Publication number: 20160026174
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for planning an object which comprises a multitude of single parts and subassemblies, especially an aerospace object, the method comprising: calculating the total weights of the subassemblies and/or of the object on the basis of the data sets of the single parts and the subassemblies, wherein measured weights are used preferably to calculated weights, and calculated weights are used preferably to target weights for the calculation of the total weight(s) of the subassemblies and/or of the object, and calculating and providing the information about the shares of the used weight types in the calculated total weights. The invention further also relates to a manufacturing system and a computer implemented construction module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Berthold Eitzenberger, Sandra Rauch, Martin Harder
  • Publication number: 20150355296
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a local coil for an imaging magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil includes at least one displacement facility for a displacement of at least part of the local coil along at least axes running, in particular, in the axial patient direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Martin Harder
  • Patent number: 9072497
    Abstract: A method for an image data acquisition with a magnetic resonance device that has a display unit includes acquisition of at least one overview measurement with at least one image data set, evaluation of the at least one image data set, generation of information of a slice geometry, graphical presentation of the information of the slice geometry along at least one slice plane, and acquisition of image data regarding a medical and/or diagnostic question and/or examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Harder, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9063205
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus wherein the magnetic resonance device has a movable patient bed, in a first overview measurement, a first image data record of a patient is acquired, and patient information and/or information of a treatment region of a patient is/are determined from the acquired first image data record. In a second overview measurement, dependent on the patient information and/or on the positioning information of the treatment region of the first image data record, a second image data record is acquired. In a planning step a layer planning for the image data acquisition is implemented from the acquired second image data record. Image data for a medical and/or diagnostic issue and/or examination are recorded. The first image data record of the first overview measurement is recorded with a lower spatial resolution than a spatial resolution of the second image data record of the second overview measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Harder, Dominik Paul, Raphael Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9055882
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus to generate a magnetic resonance (MR) image in a volume of interest of an examination subject, the magnetization is excited in an additional volume in the subject by at least one RF pulse, in order to achieve a desired magnetization in the volume of interest. The additional excitation volume differs at least partially from the volume of interest. For this purpose, at least one MR overview image of the examination subject is analyzed automatically to determine a position of at least one anatomical structure of the examination subject, from which the volume of interest is automatically determined. The additional excitation volume is automatically determined using the position of the at least one anatomical structure. The MR image in the volume of interest is acquired with excitation of the magnetization in the automatically determined additional excitation volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Martin Harder, John Kirsch, Wilfried Landschuetz, Andreas Schmidt, Katrin Wohlfarth