Patents by Inventor Ralph Kimmlingen

Ralph Kimmlingen 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: 20250341602
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus is described that comprises a scanner unit, a patient receiving area at least partially surrounded by the scanner unit, a patient support device that has a movable patient table embodied to be inserted into the patient receiving area, and a position-determining unit embodied to determine a position of the patient table with respect to the scanner unit, and which comprises a laser marking unit. The position-determining unit comprises a calibration unit for calibrating the laser marking unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Patent number: 12295712
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring absorption of a transmitter output irradiated into a patient by a transmitter unit of a magnetic resonance device, absorption data is provided, which describes a patient-nonspecific, location-dependent absorption sensitivity of the transmitter output to be irradiated. The patient is positioned in an irradiation region of the magnetic resonance device, in which the irradiation of the transmitter output into the patient is to take place. An anatomy of the patient is detected in the irradiation region, and the absorption data is assigned to the anatomy of the patient. A magnetic resonance scan of the patient is then performed, wherein the transmitter output absorbed by the patient is monitored during the magnetic resonance scan based on the absorption data assigned to the anatomy of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Patrick Liebig
  • Publication number: 20250052840
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus with a switching unit and a method for operating such an apparatus are provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a power amplifier unit that is configured to provide transmit signals to be emitted by the magnetic resonance apparatus, and the switching unit. The switching unit includes an actuator unit, a first plug-in connector part that is connected to the power amplifier unit, and a number of second plug-in connector parts. The actuator unit is configured to move the first plug-in connector part relative to the number of second plug-in connector parts so that an electrical connection is established between the first plug-in connector part and a predetermined plug-in connector part of the number of second plug-in connector parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Patent number: 12222410
    Abstract: A head coil arrangement is for a magnetic resonance tomograph. In an embodiment, the head coil arrangement includes a send coil unit and a receive coil unit. The send coil unit, in the position in which the head coil arrangement is normally used on a patient, is automatically positionable in the longitudinal direction of the patient relative to the head coil arrangement. A further embodiment relates to a magnetic resonance facility comprising the head coil arrangement and a guide element, embodied to transmit a force to a dog. The send coil unit is positionable via the force on the dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Martin Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20230038365
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring absorption of a transmitter output irradiated into a patient by a transmitter unit of a magnetic resonance device, absorption data is provided, which describes a patient-nonspecific, location-dependent absorption sensitivity of the transmitter output to be irradiated. The patient is positioned in an irradiation region of the magnetic resonance device, in which the irradiation of the transmitter output into the patient is to take place. An anatomy of the patient is detected in the irradiation region, and the absorption data is assigned to the anatomy of the patient. A magnetic resonance scan of the patient is then performed, wherein the transmitter output absorbed by the patient is monitored during the magnetic resonance scan based on the absorption data assigned to the anatomy of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph KIMMLINGEN, Patrick LIEBIG
  • Patent number: 11340327
    Abstract: A coil facility for a magnetic resonance installation and a magnetic resonance installation having such a coil facility are provided. The coil facility in this case includes a double-resonant transmit resonator for two frequencies and a first receiver and a second receiver, each for one of the two frequencies. The coil facility has an actuator system for effecting a relative spatial transposition of the transmit resonator, the first receiver, and the second receiver into various settings. In a first setting, only the first receiver, and in a second setting, only the second receiver, for receiving corresponding MR signals is arranged in an examination space that is at least sectionally surrounded by the transmit resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Patent number: 11181593
    Abstract: A gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonant apparatus has a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil has a first primary coil winding and a second primary coil winding, wherein the first primary coil winding and the second primary coil winding are electrically connected to a voltage source and are jointly designed to generate a magnetic field gradient in a direction when the voltage source induces a current in those windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Publication number: 20210156935
    Abstract: A head coil arrangement is for a magnetic resonance tomograph. In an embodiment, the head coil arrangement includes a send coil unit and a receive coil unit. The send coil unit, in the position in which the head coil arrangement is normally used on a patient, is automatically positionable in the longitudinal direction of the patient relative to the head coil arrangement. A further embodiment relates to a magnetic resonance facility comprising the head coil arrangement and a guide element, embodied to transmit a force to a dog. The send coil unit is positionable via the force on the dog.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph KIMMLINGEN, Martin SCHROEDER
  • Publication number: 20200371186
    Abstract: A coil facility for a magnetic resonance installation and a magnetic resonance installation having such a coil facility are provided. The coil facility in this case includes a double-resonant transmit resonator for two frequencies and a first receiver and a second receiver, each for one of the two frequencies. The coil facility has an actuator system for effecting a relative spatial transposition of the transmit resonator, the first receiver, and the second receiver into various settings. In a first setting, only the first receiver, and in a second setting, only the second receiver, for receiving corresponding MR signals is arranged in an examination space that is at least sectionally surrounded by the transmit resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Patent number: 10830857
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system are provided. The MRT system includes a controller configured to store a transmit vector that is established on a local-coil-specific basis. The transmit vector, for a specific local coil, indicates with which amplitudes and phases, transmit elements of the local coil may be controlled by a transmit device. The controller is configured to initiate a patient-specific calibration measurement on a patient to generate patient-specific calibration data representing a field distribution. The controller is also configured to determine deviations in the patient-specific calibration data from the stored transmit vector established on a local-coil-specific basis. The patient-specific calibration data is generated in the patient-specific calibration measurement on the patient and represents a field distribution. An imaging MRT measurement is not allowed if deviations exceed a threshold value, but is otherwise performed and is monitored by a monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Publication number: 20180335493
    Abstract: A gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonant apparatus has a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil has a first primary coil winding and a second primary coil winding, wherein the first primary coil winding and the second primary coil winding are electrically connected to a voltage source and are jointly designed to generate a magnetic field gradient in a direction when the voltage source induces a current in those windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Publication number: 20180321344
    Abstract: In a method and device for regulating the temperature of the at least partly magnetizable environment of a gradient coil arrangement of a magnetic resonance apparatus, a computer is provided with a first item of information, representing a time-dependent power output of the gradient coil arrangement, and the computer ascertains a prospective temperature of the at least partly magnetizable environment from the first item of information. The computer determines a compensating temperature for a temperature regulating medium based on the ascertained prospective temperature, so that the temperature regulating medium with the compensating temperature produces a temperature in the at least partly magnetizable environment that is stable over time while the time-dependent power output is occurring. The temperature of the at least partly magnetizable environment of the gradient coil arrangement is thereby regulated by producing the compensating temperature in the temperature regulating medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Kimmlingen
  • Patent number: 10036794
    Abstract: A patient couch for a magnetic resonance tomography system and a magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The patient couch includes a feed facility for radiofrequency energy having a plurality of conduction paths for feeding radiofrequency energy. The patient couch also includes a plurality of plug-in connectors for local coils having a transmit coil, and a distribution structure for the distribution of radiofrequency energy from the feed facility to the plug-in connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Publication number: 20180003791
    Abstract: A patient couch for a magnetic resonance tomography system and a magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The patient couch includes a feed facility for radiofrequency energy having a plurality of conduction paths for feeding radiofrequency energy. The patient couch also includes a plurality of plug-in connectors for local coils having a transmit coil, and a distribution structure for the distribution of radiofrequency energy from the feed facility to the plug-in connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Patent number: 9841475
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a magnetic resonance imaging device, where the cladding of the patient bore of the MR imaging device includes a conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Publication number: 20160041250
    Abstract: A method and a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system are provided. The MRT system includes a controller configured to store a transmit vector that is established on a local-coil-specific basis. The transmit vector, for a specific local coil, indicates with which amplitudes and phases, transmit elements of the local coil may be controlled by a transmit device. The controller is configured to initiate a patient-specific calibration measurement on a patient to generate patient-specific calibration data representing a field distribution. The controller is also configured to determine deviations in the patient-specific calibration data from the stored transmit vector established on a local-coil-specific basis. The patient-specific calibration data is generated in the patient-specific calibration measurement on the patient and represents a field distribution. An imaging MRT measurement is not allowed if deviations exceed a threshold value, but is otherwise performed and is monitored by a monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Patent number: 9182465
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance tomography system that has a gradient field coil system for generating a gradient field is provided. The gradient field coil system is also a main magnetic field generation system for generating a main field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Johann Schuster
  • Patent number: 9182466
    Abstract: The present embodiments optimize a gradient coil structure with a gradient coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography device. The gradient coil arrangement includes a carrier plate with holes. Inserts are located in the holes. The inserts are made of an electrically isolating, thermally conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Johann Schuster
  • Patent number: 9176209
    Abstract: A gradient pulse generator generates reference current signals for a plurality of gradient coils of a gradient coil system of a magnetic resonance system and supplies each of the reference current signals to a controller assigned to one of the gradient coils. Also supplied to the respective controller is an actual current signal that is characteristic of the current flowing in the respective gradient coil. Each of the controllers generates a control signal and accordingly drives a gradient power amplifier assigned to the respective gradient coil. The gradient power amplifiers apply a current to the gradient coils assigned to the gradient power amplifiers in accordance with the generated control signals. Each of the controllers is also supplied with the reference current signal or the actual current signal of at least one other gradient coil or the time derivative of the reference current signal or the actual current signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eva Eberlein, Ralph Kimmlingen, Helmut Lenz, Franz Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9110145
    Abstract: A controller of a magnetic resonance system determines an activation signal vector based on a target field predetermined for the controller in conjunction with field characteristics of field coils known to the controller. The activation signal vector includes a respective activation signal for each field coil. The controller determines the activation signal vector such that within a predetermined examination volume of the magnetic resonance system, any deviation of an ideal field that would result if ideal coils were subjected to the activation signals of the activation signal vector from the target field is minimized. The controller determines a compensation signal vector based on the activation signal vector in conjunction with eddy current characteristics of the field coils known to the controller. The compensation signal vector is used to minimize a deviation of an actual field from the target field within the predetermined examination volume of the magnetic resonance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eva Eberlein, Ralph Kimmlingen, Franz Schmitt, Johann Schuster