Patents by Inventor Robert Stormont

Robert Stormont 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: 11402447
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Heather Fuqua, Victor Taracila, Mark Giancola, Robert Stormont
  • Publication number: 20210132164
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Heather Fuqua, Victor Taracila, Mark Giancola, Robert Stormont
  • Patent number: 10969447
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for radio frequency (RF) coil arrays for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. In an embodiment, a RF coil array assembly for a MRI system includes a compressible body; an upper posterior RF coil array including a first plurality of RF coils embedded in the compressible body; a lower posterior RF coil array including a second plurality of RF coils embedded in the compressible body; and a head and neck RF coil array removably coupled to the upper posterior RF coil array. The head and neck RF coil array includes a third plurality of RF coils embedded in the compressible body, and one or more neck straps configured to fold over a neck of a subject to be imaged by the MRI system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ceara Stack, Thomas Grafendorfer, Fraser Robb, Steven Falk, Yun-Jeong Stickle, Taylan Dalveren, Guido Kudielka, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay, Victor Taracilla
  • Patent number: 10921401
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil array for a MRI system includes a plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising an integrated capacitor coil loop; a plurality of coupling electronics units each coupled to a respective coil loop; and a plurality of wires coupling each coupling electronics unit to an interface board configured to couple to a cable of the MRI system. The RF coil array is a high density (referring to the number of coil elements) anterior array (HDAA) or a high definition (referring to image resolution) anterior array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Nabeel Malik, Michael Clark, Kolman Juhasz, Edwin Eigenbrodt, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay
  • Patent number: 10921400
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Heather Fuqua, Victor Taracila, Mark Giancola, Robert Stormont
  • Publication number: 20190310329
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil array for a MRI system includes a plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising an integrated capacitor coil loop; a plurality of coupling electronics units each coupled to a respective coil loop; and a plurality of wires coupling each coupling electronics unit to an interface board configured to couple to a cable of the MRI system. The RF coil array is a high density (referring to the number of coil elements) anterior array (HDAA) or a high definition (referring to image resolution) anterior array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Nabeel MALIK, Michael CLARK, Kolman JUHASZ, Edwin EIGENBRODT, Robert STORMONT, Scott LINDSAY
  • Publication number: 20190310328
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight, low-cost radio frequency (RF) coil array of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a posterior RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes an RF coil array including a plurality of RF coils and a deformable material housing the plurality of RF coils, each RF coil comprising a loop portion of distributed capacitance wire conductors and a coupling electronics unit coupled to each of the plurality of RF coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Heather FUQUA, Victor TARACILA, Mark GIANCOLA, Robert STORMONT
  • Patent number: 9018955
    Abstract: A preamplifier is provided for a radio frequency (RF) receiver coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The preamplifier includes an amplifier configured to receive at least one magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the RF receiver coil and configured to generate an amplified MR signal. An input circuit is electrically connected to the amplifier. The input circuit is configured to be electrically connected to an output of the RF receiver coil for transmitting the at least one MR signal from the RF receiver coil to the amplifier. The input circuit includes an impedance transformer and a field effect transistor (FET). The FET is electrically connected between the impedance transformer and the amplifier. The FET has an FET impedance. The impedance transformer is configured to transform a source impedance of at least approximately 100 ohms. The impedance transformer is further configured to transform the FET impedance into a preamplifier input impedance of less than approximately 5 ohms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay, Ricardo Matias
  • Patent number: 9000766
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array that includes an RF coil support structure, and a plurality of RF coils coupled to the RF coil support structure, the RF coil support structure configured to enable the plurality of RF coils to be positioned in an underlap configuration and repositioned to an overlap configuration. A medical imaging system and a method of manufacturing the RF coil array are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay, Ricardo Mathias, Craig Culver
  • Publication number: 20130093425
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil array that includes an RF coil support structure, and a plurality of RF coils coupled to the RF coil support structure, the RF coil support structure configured to enable the plurality of RF coils to be positioned in an underlap configuration and repositioned to an overlap configuration. A medical imaging system and a method of manufacturing the RF coil array are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay, Ricardo Marcal Matias, Craig Culver
  • Publication number: 20120319687
    Abstract: A preamplifier is provided for a radio frequency (RF) receiver coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The preamplifier includes an amplifier configured to receive at least one magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the RF receiver coil and configured to generate an amplified MR signal. An input circuit is electrically connected to the amplifier. The input circuit is configured to be electrically connected to an output of the RF receiver coil for transmitting the at least one MR signal from the RF receiver coil to the amplifier. The input circuit includes an impedance transformer and a field effect transistor (FET). The FET is electrically connected between the impedance transformer and the amplifier. The FET has an FET impedance. The impedance transformer is configured to transform a source impedance of at least approximately 100 ohms. The impedance transformer is further configured to transform the FET impedance into a preamplifier input impedance of less than approximately 5 ohms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Robert Stormont, Scott Lindsay, Ricardo Matias
  • Publication number: 20060255803
    Abstract: A peripheral vascular coil array for providing images of a region of interest includes a first section including a first coil array and a second coil array in electrical communication with each other. The first and second coil arrays are disposed at opposite sides of the region of interest to produce a magnetic field in the region of interest. Each of the first and second coil arrays includes a butterfly coil and a loop coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Ricardo Matias, Robert Stormont, Fraser Robb
  • Publication number: 20060255804
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a multiple station RF coil array comprised of multiple three concentric surface coil arrays for achieving a large field of view and high imaging resolution. Yet another embodiment of the invention provides for an RF coil array comprising three coil elements without sharing the same plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: General Electric
    Inventors: Dashen Chu, Ricardo Matias, Robert Stormont