Patents by Inventor Melissa L. Vass

Melissa L. Vass 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: 8364244
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating computed tomographic (CT) images from image data acquired during different biological cycles are provided. A computer is programmed to receive a plurality of scan data acquired during a gated acquisition window of each of a plurality of biological cycles, blend the scan data acquired during a first of the plurality of biological cycles with the scan data acquired during a second of the plurality of biological cycles, and construct a final image from the blended data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandeep Dutta, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Xiangyang Tang, Darin R. Okerlund, Jiang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7778385
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
  • Patent number: 7747047
    Abstract: A method for planning left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion for a patient includes obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system, and generating a 3D model of the left atrium of the patient. One or more left atrial anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model, and saved views of the 3D model are registered on an interventional system. One or more of the registered saved views are visualized with the interventional system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Darin R. Okerlund, Jasbir S. Sra, Melissa L. Vass, Shankara B. Reddy
  • Patent number: 7734005
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
  • Patent number: 7636462
    Abstract: A method and system for filtering medical images is described. The described method of filtering medical images includes receiving image data including a plurality of images from an image scan, determining a number of interpolation elements based on a slice thickness of the plurality of images, and filtering the image data using the determined interpolation elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh, Xiangyang Tang, Darin Robert Okerlund, Melissa L. Vass, Kelly Ann Mohr
  • Patent number: 7613500
    Abstract: A method for assisting the planning of an interventional biventricular pacing procedure includes segmenting an image dataset of a heart of a patient to extract a surface of a left ventricle (LV) and a LV myocardium of the patient's heart, utilizing the segmented image dataset to divide the LV into myocardial segments or into a plurality of short axis slices, and detecting wall motion of each short axis slice of phases of a cardiac cycle of the patient's heart with respect to a reference phase. The method also includes localizing a region most recently attaining maximum displacement and a region most recently attaining maximum velocity, and generating 2D or 3D renderings including renderings indicating at least one of time delays of contraction, a maximum displacement, or a maximum velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Melissa L. Vass, Darin R. Okerlund, Laurent Launay, Jasbir Singh Sra
  • Patent number: 7613275
    Abstract: A method for combining images acquired using helical half-scan imaging comprises identifying an image plane within an overlap region comprising data from first and second view streams representative of first and second cycles of acquired image data. The image plane comprises the same anatomical structure. First and second weighting functions are calculated for first and second images based on first and second tube positions of an x-ray tube. The first and second images correspond to the image plane and are from the first and second view streams, respectively. The first and second tube positions also correspond to the image plane. A weighted image is then formed based on the first and second weighting functions and the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh, Melissa L. Vass, Xiangyang Tang, John Howard Londt, Darin Robert Okerlund
  • Patent number: 7558363
    Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a gantry and a table in a movable relationship with the gantry. The CT imaging system also includes a controller configured to control relative movement between a subject disposed on the table and the gantry from a first data acquisition position to a second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to determine a total scan time based on a first time for acquiring imaging data at the first data acquisition position and a second time for transitioning from the first data acquisition position to the second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to disable data acquisition in an immediately subsequent cardiac cycle and re-enable data acquisition in the cardiac cycle following the immediately subsequent cardiac cycle if the total scan time exceeds one cardiac cycle of the subject. A method of CT imaging is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, Melissa L. Vass, Xiangyang Tang, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel, Kelly Ann Mohr, John Howard Londt
  • Patent number: 7343196
    Abstract: A method for planning biventricular pacing lead placement for a patient includes obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system and generating a 3D model of the left ventricle and thoracic wall of the patient. One or more left ventricle anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model, and saved views of the 3D model are registered on an interventional system. One or more of the registered saved views are visualized with the interventional system, and at least one suitable region on the left ventricle wall is identified for epicardial lead placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignees: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Darin R. Okerlund, Jasbir S. Sra, Shankara B. Reddy, Laurent Launay, Melissa L. Vass
  • Publication number: 20040225212
    Abstract: A method for planning left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion for a patient includes obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system, and generating a 3D model of the left atrium of the patient. One or more left atrial anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model, and saved views of the 3D model are registered on an interventional system. One or more of the registered saved views are visualized with the interventional system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Darin R. Okerlund, Jasbir S. Sra, Melissa L. Vass, Shankara B. Reddy
  • Publication number: 20040225328
    Abstract: A method for planning biventricular pacing lead placement for a patient includes obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system and generating a 3D model of the left ventricle and thoracic wall of the patient. One or more left ventricle anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model, and saved views of the 3D model are registered on an interventional system. One or more of the registered saved views are visualized with the interventional system, and at least one suitable region on the left ventricle wall is identified for epicardial lead placement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: GE MEDICAL SYSTEMS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Darin R. Okerlund, Jasbir S. Sra, Shankara B. Reddy, Laurent Launay, Melissa L. Vass