Patents by Inventor Michael A. Taber

Michael A. Taber 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: 4647857
    Abstract: A modified spin echo sequence is employed to identify fluid movement in a material. The volume of interest is subjected to a static field along one axis (Z) and an RF magnetic excitation pulse transverse to the static field is applied which tilts the nuclear spins in the volume. The tilted nuclear spins are then allowed to precess about the uniform static field in the presence of a gradient field whereby the nuclear spins become dephased. Thereafter, a spin echo of the static spins is created by either a 180.degree. RF pulse or reversal of the gradient field. Upon refocusing of the static nuclear spins a restoration RF pulse is applied to realign the stationary nuclear spins with the static field. Nuclear spins undergoing bulk motion as in fluid flow will be refocused to a different phase than the stationary spins so that the final RF pulse will in general leave these spins with a non-zero transverse magnetic moment. This residual transverse magnetic moment is then detected to identify the fluid movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Stanford University
    Inventor: Michael A. Taber