Patents by Inventor Peter Forthmann

Peter Forthmann 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).

  • Publication number: 20240290525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling a superconducting coil (6) with a magnetic persistent current switch (7). The magnetic persistent current switch (7) is used for switching the superconducting coil (6) between a persistent mode and a ramp mode, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Philippe Abel Menteur
  • Publication number: 20240272255
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an arrangement (100) for loosening a moveable part (104) resting at a first position within a switchable device (106) of a magnetic resonance imaging system (300). The arrangement (100) comprises the moveable part (104), an inductor (102), and an alternating current supply (108). The moveable part (104) is configured to switch the switchable device (106) at least from a first state to a second state by moving from the first position to a second position within the switchable device (106). The inductor (102) is connected with the alternating current supply (108) via an electrical connection (110). The alternating current supply (108) is configured to supply the inductor (102) with an alternating current via the electrical connection (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventor: Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11885859
    Abstract: A shim tray (10) for a main magnet system of a magnetic resonance examination system comprises a plurality of shim pockets (11), of which an individual shim pocket has side walls (21, 42) forming an open channel (11). Two opposite lateral side walls (21) have insertion profiles (22) to receive an end shim-element (13) at least one open channel's end. Essentially the entire volume of the channel of the shim pocket is available to hold passive shim elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Peter Forthmann
  • Publication number: 20240008827
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical imaging system (10), comprising:—an X-ray image acquisition unit (20);—a shield placement unit (30);—a radar unit (40); and—a processing unit (50) The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to acquire an X-ray image of a patient. The shield placement unit is configured to move at least one shield to cover at least one part of the patient to stop or limit X-ray exposure of the at least one part of the patient. The processing unit is configured to control the shield placement unit to move and position the at least one shield. The radar unit is configured to obtain radio frequency “RF” data, wherein the RF data is obtained from the emission of RF radiation and the sensing of reflected RF radiation, and wherein the reflected RF radiation comprises RF radiation reflected from a shield of the at least one shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Günther Leussler, Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11656307
    Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system component. The magnetic resonance imaging system component comprises an acoustic shield (124) for a magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly (102). The acoustic shield comprises a cylindrical portion (125) configured for being inserted into a bore (106) of the magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly and for completely covering the bore of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The cylindrical portion comprises a smooth exposed surface (126) configured for facing away from the magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly. The cylindrical portion further comprises an attachment surface (127). The acoustic shield further comprises an acoustic metamaterial layer (128) attached to the attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11536787
    Abstract: A magnetic field z-gradient coil is manufactured by inserting elements (38) into openings (36) on an outside of an insulating carrier (32), wrapping an electrical conductor turn (34) around the outside of the insulating carrier with one side of the wrapped electrical conductor alongside elements inserted into openings on the outside of the insulating carrier, removing the elements alongside the one side of the wrapped electrical conductor from the openings, and repeating to wrap conductor turns of a z-gradient coil (20) around the electrically insulating carrier. A transverse magnetic field gradient coil is manufactured by laying electrical conductor (44) onto a mold (50) with a keying feature (46, 46a) extending along the conductor engaging a mating keying feature (52, 52a) of the mold that defines a winding pattern (56), attaching an insulating back plate (58) to the resulting coil section opposite from the mold, and removing the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Jerry Alden, Thomas Erik Amthor, Jeffrey Edward Leach, Joseph C. Testa
  • Publication number: 20220179021
    Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system component. The magnetic resonance imaging system component comprises an acoustic shield (124) for a magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly (102). The acoustic shield comprises a cylindrical portion (125) configured for being inserted into a bore (106) of the magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly and for completely covering the bore of the magnetic resonance imaging system. The cylindrical portion comprises a smooth exposed surface (126) configured for facing away from the magnetic resonance imaging cylindrical magnet assembly. The cylindrical portion further comprises an attachment surface (127). The acoustic shield further comprises an acoustic metamaterial layer (128) attached to the attachment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Erik AMTHOR, Peter FORTHMANN
  • Publication number: 20220175486
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly (102, 102?) configured for supporting a subject (118) within an imaging zone (108). The magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly comprises a magnetic resonance imaging magnet (104), wherein the magnetic resonance imaging magnet is configured for generating a main magnetic field with the imaging zone. The magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly further comprises an optical image generator (122) configured for generating a two-dimensional image. The magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly further comprises an optical waveguide bundle (123) configured for coupling to the optical image generator. The magnetic resonance imaging magnet assembly further comprises a two-dimensional display (124) comprising pixels (600), wherein each of the pixels comprises a diffusor (602, 602?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Sascha Krueger, Jan Hendrik Wuelbern
  • Publication number: 20220171007
    Abstract: A shim tray (10) for a main magnet system of a magnetic resonance examination system comprises a plurality of shim pockets (11), of which an individual shim pocket has side walls (21, 42) forming an open channel (11). Two opposite lateral side walls (21) have insertion profiles (22) to receive an end shim-element (13) at least one open channel's end. Essentially the entire volume of the channel of the shim pocket is available to hold passive shim elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventor: Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11344218
    Abstract: A contact-free method of determining biometric parameters and physiological parameters of a subject of interest (20) to be examined by a medical imaging modality (10), comprising steps of taking (72) a picture by a first digital camera (52) including a total view of an examination table (44); applying (74) a computer vision algorithm or an image processing algorithm to the picture for determining a biometric parameter of the subject of interest (20) in relation to the examination table (44); taking (78) at least one picture with a second digital camera (58), whose field of view (60) includes a region of the subject of interest (20) that is related to the at least one determined biometric parameter; using data indicative of the determined biometric parameter to identify (82) a subset of pixels of the at least one picture taken by the second digital camera (58) that define a region of interest (64) from which at least one physiological parameter of the subject of interest (20) is to be determined, taking (84) a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Julien Senegas, Daniel Wirtz, Sascha Krueger, Vincent Jeanne, Thirukumaran Thangaraj Kanagasabapathi, Joerg Sabczynski, Peter Forthmann
  • Patent number: 11274857
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (10) comprising a cryostat (12), a two-stage cryogenic cold head (24) and at least one thermal connection member (136; 236; 336; 436) that is configured to provide at least a portion of a heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) from the second stage member (30) to the first stage member (26) of the two-stage cryogenic cold head (24). The heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) is arranged outside the cold head (24). A thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the second cryogenic temperature is larger than a thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the first cryogenic temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Erik Amthor, Miha Fuderer, Gerardus Bernardus Jozef Mulder, Christoph Leussler, Peter Forthmann, Philippe Abel Menteur
  • Patent number: 11055848
    Abstract: A method includes determining at least one characteristic about a stenosis in a vessel of a patient from image data of the stenosis, mapping the characteristic to a predefined stenosis characteristic to fractional flow reserve value look up table, identifying the fractional flow reserve value in the look up table corresponding to the characteristic, and visually presenting the image data and the identified fractional flow reserve value. A system includes memory storing a pre-defined stenosis characteristic to fractional flow reserve value look up table, a metric determiner (118) that maps at least one characteristic about a stenosis in a vessel of a patient, which is determined from image data of the stenosis, to a characteristic in the look up table and identifies a fractional flow reserve value corresponding to the characteristic, and a display (116) that visually presents the image data and the identified fractional flow reserve value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Schmitt, Peter Forthmann, Michael Grass
  • Publication number: 20210113110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system (100) comprising a main magnet (104), a magnetic field gradient system with antenna elements (114), a radio-frequency system, a memory (136) storing machine executable instructions comprising a first set of machine executable instructions (150) for operating the magnetic resonance imaging system (100) in a pre-data-acquisition-mode in which data acquisition by the antenna elements (114) is switched off, and a processor (130) for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system (100). An execution of the first set of machine executable instructions (150) causes the processor (130) to control the magnetic resonance imaging system (100) to generate in the pre-data-acquisition-mode acoustic sound using the magnetic field gradient system. The generation of the acoustic sound comprises generating an alternating gradient magnetic field by the magnetic field gradient system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: PETER FORTHMANN
  • Patent number: 10894174
    Abstract: The following relates generally to use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as guidance in radiation therapy, and more specifically to use of MR imaging as guidance in proton therapy. In some embodiments, a cryogenic dewar is provided with multiple channels allowing a proton beam from a proton beam source to pass through. The proton beam may first be aligned with a first channel, and the dewar may then be rotated along with the proton source. The dewar may then be rotated to align a second channel with the proton beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Philip Alexander Jonas, Johannes Adrianus Overweg
  • Patent number: 10412377
    Abstract: An augmented reality device used in a medical imaging laboratory housing a medical imaging device (10) includes a headset (30), cameras (32, 33) mounted in the medical imaging laboratory, and directional sensors (34, 35, 36, 37) mounted on the headset. The cameras generate a panorama image (54). Data collected by the directional sensors is processed to determine the viewing direction (60). The panorama image and the determined viewing direction are processed to generate an augmented patient view image (80) in which the medical imaging device is removed, replaced, or made partially transparent, the augmented image is presented on a display (40) of the headset. The directional sensors may include a headset camera (34) that provides a patient view image (50), which is augmented by removing or making partially transparent any portion of the medical imaging device in the patient view image by substituting corresponding portions of the panorama image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Glen Pfleiderer
  • Patent number: 10307616
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (100, 300, 400, 800) includes a magnetic resonance imaging system (104), a radiation therapy device (102) having a gantry (106) and a radiation source (110). A radiation detection system (102) measures radiation detection data (174) descriptive of a path and intensity of a radiation beam at an intersection of the radiation beam with at least one surface (144, 144?, 144?) surrounding the subject using at least one radiation detector (144, 144?, 144?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips, N.V.
    Inventors: Erkki Tapani Vahala, Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Forthmann
  • Publication number: 20180372821
    Abstract: A magnetic field z-gradient coil is manufactured by inserting elements (38) into openings (36) on an outside of an insulating carrier (32), wrapping an electrical conductor turn (34) around the outside of the insulating carrier with one side of the wrapped electrical conductor alongside elements inserted into openings on the outside of the insulating carrier, removing the elements alongside the one side of the wrapped electrical conductor from the openings, and repeating to wrap conductor turns of a z-gradient coil (20) around the electrically insulating carrier. A transverse magnetic field gradient coil is manufactured by laying electrical conductor (44) onto a mold (50) with a keying feature (46, 46a) extending along the conductor engaging a mating keying feature (52, 52a) of the mold that defines a winding pattern (56), attaching an insulating back plate (58) to the resulting coil section opposite from the mold, and removing the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: PETER FORTHMANN, JERRY ALDEN, THOMAS ERIK AMTHOR, JEFFREY EDWARD LEACH, JOSEPH C. TESTA
  • Publication number: 20180347866
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (10) comprising a cryostat (12), a two-stage cryogenic cold head (24) and at least one thermal connection member (136; 236; 336; 436) that is configured to provide at least a portion of a heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) from the second stage member (30) to the first stage member (26) of the two-stage cryogenic cold head (24). The heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) is arranged outside the cold head (24). A thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the second cryogenic temperature is larger than a thermal resistance of the provided at least portion of the heat transfer path (138; 238; 338; 438) at the first cryogenic temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: THOMAS ERIK AMTHOR, MIHA FUDERER, GERARDUS BERNARDUS JOZEF MULDER, CHRISTOPH LEUSSLER, PETER FORTHMANN, PHILIPPE ABEL MENTEUR
  • Publication number: 20180318608
    Abstract: The following relates generally to use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as guidance in radiation therapy, and more specifically to use of MR imaging as guidance in proton therapy. In some embodiments, a cryogenic dewar is provided with multiple channels allowing a proton beam from a proton beam source to pass through. The proton beam may first be aligned with a first channel, and the dewar may then be rotated along with the proton source. The dewar may then be rotated to align a second channel with the proton beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: PETER FORTHMANN, PHILIP ALEXANDER JONAS, JOHANNES ADRIANUS OVERWEG
  • Publication number: 20180197337
    Abstract: An augmented reality device used in a medical imaging laboratory housing a medical imaging device (10) includes a headset (30), cameras (32, 33) mounted in the medical imaging laboratory, and directional sensors (34, 35, 36, 37) mounted on the headset. The cameras generate a panorama image (54). Data collected by the directional sensors is processed to determine the viewing direction (60). The panorama image and the determined viewing direction are processed to generate an augmented patient view image (80) in which the medical imaging device is removed, replaced, or made partially transparent, the augmented image is presented on a display (40) of the headset. The directional sensors may include a headset camera (34) that provides a patient view image (50), which is augmented by removing or making partially transparent any portion of the medical imaging device in the patient view image by substituting corresponding portions of the panorama image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: PETER FORTHMANN, GLEN PFLEIDERER