Patents by Inventor Michael Heidenreich

Michael Heidenreich 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: 11169238
    Abstract: Techniques for determining motion states of at least two bodies by an MR-device are provided, wherein the bodies each have a respective target region which is in an anatomic motion comprising a repetitive motion pattern with a motion repetition rate, and in particular, for cardiac and/or respiratory motion. A sequence of individual MR-measurements are performed on the bodies at a MR-repetition rate higher than the motion-repetition rate, wherein nuclear spins of the at least two bodies are excited during the sequence of individual MR-measurements either simultaneously or alternately at navigator times. With the individual MR-measurements, navigator signals are determined, each respective navigator signal indicative of the motion state of at least one of the motion patterns at the navigator time of the navigator signal. These techniques allow simultaneously determining motion states for imaging more than one body with a repetitive motion pattern with reduced preparation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BRUKER BIOSPIN MRI GMBH
    Inventors: Arno Nauerth, Michael Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20190128985
    Abstract: Techniques for determining motion states of at least two bodies by an MR-device are provided, wherein the bodies each have a respective target region which is in an anatomic motion comprising a repetitive motion pattern with a motion repetition rate, and in particular, for cardiac and/or respiratory motion. A sequence of individual MR-measurements are performed on the bodies at a MR-repetition rate higher than the motion-repetition rate, wherein nuclear spins of the at least two bodies are excited during the sequence of individual MR-measurements either simultaneously or alternately at navigator times. With the individual MR-measurements, navigator signals are determined, each respective navigator signal indicative of the motion state of at least one of the motion patterns at the navigator time of the navigator signal. These techniques allow simultaneously determining motion states for imaging more than one body with a repetitive motion pattern with reduced preparation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Arno NAUERTH, Michael HEIDENREICH
  • Publication number: 20190120923
    Abstract: A method for generating positron-emission tomography images of at least one body having a target region which is in an anatomic motion that includes a repetitive motion pattern with a motion repetition rate. PET data is acquired by performing a PET measurement; motion states are determined during the PET acquisition period; the determined motion states are assigned to acquisition times; and PET images are reconstructed from selected PET data. During the PET-acquisition period, a sequence of individual MR-measurements on the body is performed at a MR-repetition rate higher than the motion-repetition rate, wherein nuclear spins of the body are excited during the sequence of individual MR-measurements at navigator times. Navigator signals are determined, each navigator signal being indicative of a motion state of the motion pattern at the navigator time. The motion states are determined by analyzing the navigator signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Arno NAUERTH, Michael HEIDENREICH
  • Patent number: 10191130
    Abstract: A device for alternating examination of a measurement object (170) by means of MPI and MRI with two magnetic field-generating elements is presented. The device is characterized by a main magnet coil system with two coaxial partial coil systems (100a1, 100a2; 100b2, 100b1) arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a central plane running perpendicularly to the z-axis through the first volume under investigation (162). The volumes under investigation are superimposed. A polarity reversal device (190) reverses the polarity of the current through a partial coil system and the main magnet coil system generates a homogeneous magnetic field of at least sixth order in the first volume under investigation when the partial coil systems have identical polarity, and a spatially strongly varying magnetic field profile in the second volume under investigation when the polarities are opposite. Repositioning of the measurement object is thereby simplified or can even be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BRUKER BIOSPIN MRI GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Patent number: 9927500
    Abstract: Device for alternating examination of a measurement object (103) by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements (101,102; 201,202; 801a,801b,811,812) generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region (104) and in the second examination region (105), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus (106) by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Publication number: 20150316628
    Abstract: A device for alternating examination of a measurement object (170) by means of MPI and MRI with two magnetic field-generating elements is presented. The device is characterized by a main magnet coil system with two coaxial partial coil systems (100a1, 100a2; 100b2, 100b1) arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to a central plane running perpendicularly to the z-axis through the first volume under investigation (162). The volumes under investigation are superimposed. A polarity reversal device (190) reverses the polarity of the current through a partial coil system and the main magnet coil system generates a homogeneous magnetic field of at least sixth order in the first volume under investigation when the partial coil systems have identical polarity, and a spatially strongly varying magnetic field profile in the second volume under investigation when the polarities are opposite. Repositioning of the measurement object is thereby simplified or can even be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Publication number: 20150285875
    Abstract: Device for alternating examination of a measurement object (103) by means of MPI and MRI within a magnetic system is characterized in that the magnetic system has a specified magnetic field profile, which is not temporally variable during the alternating examination, and both magnetic field generating elements (101,102; 201,202; 801a,801b,811,812) generate a magnetic field portion, in the first examination region (104) and in the second examination region (105), which is essential for the MRI operation and for the MPI operation, and in that there is a transport apparatus (106) by means of which the measurement object can be moved out of the first examination region and into the second examination region and/or vice versa. The total space requirement for both modalities is thus reduced and the complexity of an integrally designed hybrid system is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Heidenreich, Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann, Rainer Pietig
  • Publication number: 20060070401
    Abstract: A refrigerant distribution device 10 situated in an inlet header 12 of a multiple tube heat exchanger 14 of a refrigeration system 20. The device 10 includes an inlet passage 32 that is in communication with an expansion device. Small diameter nozzles 34 are disposed within the inlet header 12 and are in fluid communication with the inlet passage 32. Capillary liquid nozzles 36 also lie within the inlet header 12 and are in fluid communication with the inlet passage 32. A two-phase refrigerant fluid in the inlet passage 32 has a refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. The vapor nozzles 34 have vapor inlet ports 40 that lie above the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. The capillary liquid nozzles 36 have liquid inlet ports 42 that lie below the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. Vapor emerging from the vapor nozzles 34 blow onto and atomize liquid emerging from the liquid nozzle to create a homogeneous refrigerant that is uniformly delivered to the multiple tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Advanced Heat Transfer, LLC
    Inventors: Younglib Bae, Michael Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20060070399
    Abstract: A refrigerant distribution device 10 situated in an inlet header 12 of a multiple tube heat exchanger 14 of a refrigeration system 20. The device 10 includes an inlet passage 32 that is in communication with an expansion device. Small diameter conduits 34 are disposed within the inlet header 12 and are in fluid communication with the inlet passage 32. A two-phase refrigerant fluid in the inlet passage 32 has a refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. The conduits 34 have inlet ports 40 that lie below the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. Vapor emerging from the nozzles 34 create a homogeneous refrigerant that is uniformly delivered to the multiple tubes. The invention also includes a method for delivering a uniform distribution of a homogeneous liquid mixture of liquid and vaporous refrigerant through the heat exchanger tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Advanced Heat Transfer, LLC
    Inventors: Younglib Bae, Michael Heidenreich, William Abbatt
  • Publication number: 20050155750
    Abstract: A fin collar having a shape that enhances flux application and brazing clad flow into the tube to fin joint to provide an improved thermal and structural bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Mitchell, Michael Heidenreich, Roger Loomis, James Harris, David Davis, David Lollar
  • Publication number: 20020171423
    Abstract: In a method for producing spatially encoded measuring signals of nuclear magnetic resonance from a measuring object, wherein nuclear spins are excited in the measuring object through irradiation of radio frequency (RF) pulses, encoding in reciprocal spatial space (k space) is generated through application of a phase gradient in n dimensions and a magnetic resonance signal from the measuring object is then recorded, wherein k space is scanned in a desired region between kmin and kmax through corresponding repetition of the excitation, encoding and recording steps with different respective phase gradients, and wherein the individual magnetic resonance signals are each associated with a certain weighting (acquisition filter) which is predetermined by the dependence of a desired spatial response function, the time TR(kn) between the start of the (n−1)th excitation step for scanning the measuring signal which corresponds to the point kn−1 in k space and the start of the nth excitation step for scanning
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Heidenreich
  • Patent number: 4899735
    Abstract: A wrist and forearm range-of-motion exercising device includes a first member adapted to be secured to a portion of the hand, a second member adapted to be secured to a portion of the upper arm and interconnecting means, including a one-way clutch, for interconnecting the members and providing unidirectional rotation along the axis of interconnection. The device retains the forearm in the position to which it is rotated under the control of the patient or as assisted by a therapist. A tension release device may be actuated to allow the forearm to return to the relaxed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Bissell Health Care Corporation
    Inventors: Kim R. Townsend, Susan G. Bledsoe, Michael Heidenreich, Michael H. Voelz