Patents by Inventor Rainer Raupach

Rainer Raupach 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: 10424090
    Abstract: A method for determining a spatial distribution of a material property value in an examination region of an examination object is described. With an embodiment of the method, projection scan data is acquired which has been produced with the aid of a single-energy CT scan with a defined X-ray energy spectrum from the examination region of the examination object using a defined scan projection geometry. Furthermore, a target function is established which includes a spectral forward projection of the sought spatial distribution and the acquired projection data. Finally, a spatial distribution of a material property value is determined for which the target function assumes an extremal value. A material property distribution-determining device is also described. A computer tomography system is described, moreover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 10388037
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the application, a method is provided for selecting an algorithm for correcting at least one image artifact in an image data record acquired by a medical imaging system and representing at least one region of interest of a subject under examination. The method includes identifying from the image data record at least one object element causing the image artifact and lying inside the region of interest of the subject under examination; determining from the image data record at least one characteristic describing the object element; determining an artifact correction algorithm on the basis of the at least one characteristic; and applying the artifact correction algorithm to the image data record. An embodiment of the application also provides a corresponding data processing facility and a medical imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Arens, Roland Barthel, Andreas Krauss, Gerhard Lechsel, Rainer Raupach, Niklas Rehfeld
  • Patent number: 10292674
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for image acquisition, in which the protocol for controlling the CT scanner is computed automatically. The system includes a facility, which includes at least one CT scanner; a central PACS system in which image data and assigned metadata are stored as image data information, acquired with the facility; and an analysis unit, in terms of programming technology and/or circuit technology, for analyzing the captured image data information to automatically compute therefrom, the specific operating conditions and the facility-specific protocol parameters for the CT scanner protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Kaepplinger, Robert Lapp, Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 10290122
    Abstract: A multi-spectral CT imaging method, preferably a CT imaging method, is described. Spectrally resolved projection scan data is acquired from a region to be imaged of an examination object. The data is assigned to a plurality of pre-determined different partial spectra. Spectrally resolved image data is reconstructed with a plurality of attenuation values for each image point of the region to be imaged. The attenuation values are each assigned to one of the pre-determined different partial spectra. Furthermore, an extremal attenuation value is determined for each image point on the basis of the plurality of attenuation values. A representative image data set is determined such that the determined extremal attenuation value is assigned to each image point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Allmendinger, Rainer Raupach, Bernhard Schmidt, Harald Schöndube
  • Patent number: 10229517
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for segmentation of an examination region to be imaged, scan projection data are acquired from the examination region to be mapped. Iterative reconstruction takes place on the basis of the acquired scan projection data. Preliminary image data and preliminary textural features are reconstructed. Anticipated preliminary structures, preferably preliminary contours, are determined in the examination region on the basis of the obtained preliminary textural features. The anticipated preliminary structures are then taken into account during iterative reconstruction of preliminary image data and preliminary textural features. An image segmentation method is described, moreover. An image reconstruction device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Raupach, Grzegorz Soza
  • Publication number: 20190074083
    Abstract: A method is for determining classification data for adaption of an examination protocol based on a basic examination protocol of a medical imaging examination as a function of status parameters of the medical imaging examination. In an embodiment, the method includes supplying a set of training data sets, every training data set in each case including a status parameter data set with values of the status parameters of the medical imaging examination and an item of adaption information associated with the status parameter data set. The adaption information relates to an adaption of the examination protocol based on the basic examination protocol of the medical imaging examination, in particular as a function of the status parameters. Finally, the method includes determining the classification data based on a machine learning algorithm and the set of training data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dorothee JUNG, Ute FEUERLEIN, Rainer RAUPACH, Thomas ALLMENDINGER, Christiane KOCH
  • Patent number: 10217251
    Abstract: A method for image reconstruction is disclosed, based upon a first plurality of spectral raw data sets. The method includes forming a second plurality of virtual raw data sets; reconstructing an auxiliary image data set on the basis of a virtual raw data set. A first material is selected from a material group which comprises a plurality of materials. Material-specific maps are generated for a number of second materials of the material group. A determination of material line integrals take place, for the second materials with forward projection of the respective material-specific map. Subsequently, synthetic projection data sets are determined for each material. Finally, a reconstruction of at least one image data set takes place on the basis of the synthetic projection data sets for a number of materials of the material group. An image reconstruction device and a computed tomography system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Krauss, Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 10210632
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing image data during CT imaging is described. In the method, a plurality of independent data records of projection measured data are captured. A combined data record is then determined based on the captured data records. In addition, morphological information is determined based on the combined data record. A target data record is also determined based on the captured independent data records. A target image data record is reconstructed based on the target data record and the determined morphological information. An image data determination facility and a computed tomography system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Flohr, Steffen Kappler, Rainer Raupach, Harald Schöndube
  • Publication number: 20180322664
    Abstract: An adaptive method for generating CT image data is described. In the method, projection measurement data of an examination region of an examination object is acquired. Furthermore, uncorrected image data of the examination region is generated. Artifact-affected subregions of the examination region are determined on the basis of at least one part of the uncorrected image data. An artifact-reduced image reconstruction is carried out in the artifact-affected subregions of the examination region. Only artifact-reduced subimage data of the artifact-affected subregions is generated. Finally, artifact-reduced image data of the entire examination region is generated by combining at least one part of the uncorrected image data and the artifact-reduced subimage data. A reconstruction device is also described. Moreover, a computed tomography system is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ute FEUERLEIN, Christian HOFMANN, Robert MAYER, Rainer RAUPACH, Grzegorz SOZA
  • Patent number: 10080538
    Abstract: A method is for provisioning quantitative CT image data acquired from a scanning field via a dual-source CT device the dual-source CT device including a first radiation source-detector system with a first capture region and a second radiation source-detector system with a second capture region. The method includes dividing the scanning field into a first subregion, representing at least a part of the intersection of the first region and the second capture region, and a second subregion, disjoint from the second region; acquiring first CT scan data from the first subregion and second CT scan data from the second subregion; reconstructing first quantitative CT image data from the first CT scan data and second quantitative CT image data from the second CT scan data; combining the first quantitative CT image data and the second quantitative CT image data to quantitative CT image data; and provisioning the quantitative CT image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Hofmann, Nora Hünemohr, Rainer Raupach, André Ritter
  • Publication number: 20180254098
    Abstract: A method is for selecting a protocol for a medical imaging examination. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of protocols; providing a classification system for medical imaging examinations having a plurality of hierarchically ordered categories; determining a node from the quantity of nodes belonging to the set of nodes by which the medical imaging examination can be identified, and to which one protocol respectively is assigned whose category relative to the categories of the other nodes of this quantity is lowest; and selecting the protocol, assigned to the determined node, for the medical imaging examination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas ALLMENDINGER, Matthias BAER, Ulrike HABERLAND, Christiane KOCH, Sebastian SCHMIDT, Ute FEUERLEIN, Rainer RAUPACH
  • Publication number: 20180253842
    Abstract: A method is for checking a medical image with regard to a processing of the medical image via an image processing module. The method includes providing at least one input requirement of the image processing module relating to at least one image parameter of the medical image; providing the at least one image parameter of the medical image; and checking whether the at least one image parameter fulfills the at least one input requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas ALLMENDINGER, Matthias BAER, Ute FEUERLEIN, Christiane KOCH, Stefan KAEPPLINGER, Robert LAPP, Christian TIETJEN, Rainer RAUPACH
  • Patent number: 10045743
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for generating a virtual X-ray projection of at least one body region of a patient to be imaged with an X-ray imaging device, a machine-readable data carrier and/or an X-ray imaging device. The method includes acquiring at least one projection data set representing the at least one body region of the patient to be imaged; reconstructing an image data set from the at least one projection data set, the image data set representing local X-ray attenuation values in the at least one body region; replacing at least one local X-ray attenuation value by a modified X-ray attenuation value; forward projecting the modified image data set onto a virtual X-ray radiation detector; calculating intensity values for a plurality of detector elements from the modified projection data set; transforming the calculated intensity values into scan values; and assigning the scan values to an image matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Katharine Lynn Rowley Grant, Rainer Raupach, Bernhard Schmidt, Martin Sedlmair
  • Patent number: 10004465
    Abstract: A method for determining a tube current profile for the recording of at least one X-ray image of body region of a patient with an X-ray image recording device, a corresponding computer program, a machine-readable data carrier and an X-ray image recording device are disclosed. The method includes acquisition of an image recorded via an optical sensor wherein the image has a field of view including at least the body region of the patient to be depicted by way of an X-ray image; determination of at least one piece of patient-specific, body-related information for the patient from the image; determination of an X-ray attenuation distribution of the patient at least for the body region to be depicted by way of an X-ray image with reference to the at least one piece of patient-specific, body-related information; and determination of the tube current profile with reference to the X-ray attenuation distribution determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Krauss, Rainer Raupach, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9999401
    Abstract: A method for determining the velocity of a fluid in a volume to be imaged of an examination object with the aid of an imaging method is described. Attenuation values are acquired based upon image data of the volume to be imaged, depending on location and time. A temporally and spatially delineated region is specified based upon the acquired attenuation data, in which the acquired attenuation data behaves approximately linearly. Subsequently, temporal and/or spatial gradients and/or a combination of a temporal and a spatial gradient are determined based upon the attenuation values associated with the temporally and spatially delineated region. Finally, the velocity of the fluid is calculated based upon the determined temporal and/or spatial gradients or from the combination of a temporal and a spatial gradient and from the temporal gradient. A fluid velocity determining device, non-transitory computer readable medium and a computed tomography system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Johannes Georg Korporaal, Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 9993216
    Abstract: A method for creating a resultant image for a specifiable, virtual x-ray quanta energy distribution includes capturing a first image dataset of the patient, capturing at least one second image dataset of the patient, and specifying a virtual x-ray quanta energy distribution. The method also includes establishing a spatial density distribution of the patient for at least two materials based on the first image dataset and the at least one second image dataset. The method includes creating a third image dataset of the patient based on the specified virtual x-ray quanta energy distribution and the established spatial material density distributions. The third image dataset represents an x-ray attenuation distribution of the patient corresponding to the specified virtual x-ray quanta energy distribution. The method also includes creating the virtual image from the third image dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Flohr, Steffen Kappler, Rainer Raupach, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20180146945
    Abstract: A method is for provisioning quantitative CT image data acquired from a scanning field via a dual-source CT device the dual-source CT device including a first radiation source-detector system with a first capture region and a second radiation source-detector system with a second capture region. The method includes dividing the scanning field into a first subregion, representing at least a part of the intersection of the first region and the second capture region, and a second subregion, disjoint from the second region; acquiring first CT scan data from the first subregion and second CT scan data from the second subregion; reconstructing first quantitative CT image data from the first CT scan data and second quantitative CT image data from the second CT scan data; combining the first quantitative CT image data and the second quantitative CT image data to quantitative CT image data; and provisioning the quantitative CT image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Christian HOFMANN, Nora HÜNEMOHR, Rainer RAUPACH, André RITTER
  • Patent number: 9947117
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the reconstruction of resultant image data of an examination object from scan data acquired during a relative rotation movement between a radiation source of an X-ray image recording system and the examination object. An embodiment of the method includes reconstruction of initial image data from the scan data; derivation of contour data from the initial image data; calculation of contour significance data from the scan data and/or the initial image data; and calculation of the resultant image data using the contour data and the contour significance data. A corresponding computer program, a corresponding data carrier, a corresponding control and computation unit and a corresponding X-ray image recording system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Raupach
  • Patent number: 9872662
    Abstract: A method is for determining a spatial distribution of a material property value in an examination region of an examination object. According to an embodiment, the method includes capturing measurement projection data; reconstructing image data based upon the captured measurement projection data; estimating a distribution of two basic materials using a threshold value by classifying image points; determining a distribution of the two basic materials based upon the estimated distribution and a general dependency rule; and determining a spatial distribution of the material property value, independent of the measurement energy, based upon the determined distribution and based upon a previously known theoretical relationship between the distribution of the material property value and a distribution of the two basic materials. In addition, a material property distribution determining device is described in one embodiment, and a computer tomography system is also described in another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Raupach
  • Publication number: 20170352166
    Abstract: A method for determining a spatial distribution of a material property value in an examination region of an examination object is described. With an embodiment of the method, projection scan data is acquired which has been produced with the aid of a single-energy CT scan with a defined X-ray energy spectrum from the examination region of the examination object using a defined scan projection geometry. Furthermore, a target function is established which includes a spectral forward projection of the sought spatial distribution and the acquired projection data. Finally, a spatial distribution of a material property value is determined for which the target function assumes an extremal value. A material property distribution-determining device is also described. A computer tomography system is described, moreover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer RAUPACH