Patents by Inventor Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen

Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen 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: 10426424
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and simulating a computed tomography (CT) protocol is provided. The method includes receiving, via a graphical user interface, at a processor user input including patient population size settings and scan technique settings for modeling the effects of the scan technique settings across a patient population as a function of patient size. The method also includes generating, via the processor, a patient population profile based on at least the patient population size settings and the scan technique settings, wherein the patient population profile includes specific CT scan technique settings to be applied across different size ranges of the patient population as a function of patient size. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, one or more visualization elements illustrating the effect of these specific CT scan technique settings on specific imaging metrics across the patient population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Howard Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20190150872
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and simulating a computed tomography (CT) protocol is provided. The method includes receiving, via a graphical user interface, at a processor user input including patient population size settings and scan technique settings for modeling the effects of the scan technique settings across a patient population as a function of patient size. The method also includes generating, via the processor, a patient population profile based on at least the patient population size settings and the scan technique settings, wherein the patient population profile includes specific CT scan technique settings to be applied across different size ranges of the patient population as a function of patient size. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, one or more visualization elements illustrating the effect of these specific CT scan technique settings on specific imaging metrics across the patient population.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Howard Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 9326738
    Abstract: Approaches for acquiring CT image data corresponding to a full scan, but at a reduced dose are disclosed. In one implementation, X-ray tube current modulation is employed to reduce the effective dose. In other implementations, acquisition of sparse views, z-collimation, and two-rotation acquisition protocols may be employed to achieve a reduced dose relative to a full-scan acquisition protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhye Yin, Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Jiahua Fan, Thomas Matthew Benson, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jed Douglas Pack, Kai Zeng
  • Patent number: 9131911
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprising a dynamic collimator disposed near an x-ray source and a controller configured to rotate the x-ray source about a subject, wherein imaging data is acquired from a single rotation of the x-ray source, the single rotation being divided into a first half-scan and a second half-scan. The controller is further configured to position the dynamic collimator after acquiring image data from one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan and simultaneous to commencement of acquiring image data from the other of the first half-scan and the second half-scan to obstruct a central portion of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray source during one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan. The CT scanner is further configured to reconstruct a CT image using the first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 8768033
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes a computed tomography (CT) system having a rotatable gantry, an x-ray source, a generator, a detector having pixels and positioned to receive x-rays, and a computer. The computer is programmed to acquire CT data representative of an object, determine a first subset of the CT data, determine a second subset of the CT data, and determine a difference between the first and second subsets of the CT data to identify a motion region in the object. The computer is also programmed to update image data reconstructed from a first portion of the first subset of the CT data and corresponding to the region and reconstruct an image based on the updated image data and non-updated image data. The non-updated image data is reconstructed from a second portion the first subset of the CT data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Baojun Li, John Lawrence Seamans
  • Patent number: 8406537
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) system that includes a rotational gantry and a stationary structure communicatively coupled to the rotational gantry is provided. The rotational gantry includes an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam through a subject, an X-ray detector comprising one or more detector elements that receive incoming X-rays and to convert the incoming X-rays to image signals, and a data acquisition unit that processes the image signals to generate processed image data. The stationary structure is coupled to the rotational gantry via one or more slip rings that transfer the processed image data from the rotational gantry to stationary memory integral with the stationary structure via a bidirectional serial data exchange protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Breuer, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Steven John Woloschek, Scott David Slavic, Naveen Stephen Chandra, Paavana Sainath
  • Publication number: 20130003914
    Abstract: Approaches for acquiring CT image data corresponding to a full scan, but at a reduced dose are disclosed. In one implementation, X-ray tube current modulation is employed to reduce the effective dose. In other implementations, acquisition of sparse views, z-collimation, and two-rotation acquisition protocols may be employed to achieve a reduced dose relative to a full-scan acquisition protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhye Yin, Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Jiahua Fan, Thomas Matthew Benson, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jed Douglas Pack, Kai Zeng
  • Publication number: 20120314928
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes a computed tomography (CT) system having a rotatable gantry, an x-ray source, a generator, a detector having pixels and positioned to receive x-rays, and a computer. The computer is programmed to acquire CT data representative of an object, determine a first subset of the CT data, determine a second subset of the CT data, and determine a difference between the first and second subsets of the CT data to identify a motion region in the object. The computer is also programmed to update image data reconstructed from a first portion of the first subset of the CT data and corresponding to the region and reconstruct an image based on the updated image data and non-updated image data. The non-updated image data is reconstructed from a second portion the first subset of the CT data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Baojun Li, John Lawrence Seamans
  • Patent number: 8280137
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes a computed tomography (CT) system having a rotatable gantry, an x-ray source, a generator, a detector having pixels and positioned to receive x-rays, and a computer. The computer is programmed to acquire CT data representative of an object, determine a first subset of the CT data, determine a second subset of the CT data, and determine a difference between the first and second subsets of the CT data to identify a motion region in the object. The computer is also programmed to update image data reconstructed from a first portion of the first subset of the CT data and corresponding to the region and reconstruct an image based on the updated image data and non-updated image data. The non-updated image data is reconstructed from a second portion the first subset of the CT data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Baojun Li, John Lawrence Seamans
  • Publication number: 20120170709
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprising a dynamic collimator disposed near an x-ray source and a controller configured to rotate the x-ray source about a subject, wherein imaging data is acquired from a single rotation of the x-ray source, the single rotation being divided into a first half-scan and a second half-scan. The controller is further configured to position the dynamic collimator after acquiring image data from one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan and simultaneous to commencement of acquiring image data from the other of the first half-scan and the second half-scan to obstruct a central portion of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray source during one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan. The CT scanner is further configured to reconstruct a CT image using the first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 8184775
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprising a dynamic collimator disposed near an x-ray source and a controller configured to rotate the x-ray source about a subject, wherein imaging data is acquired from a single rotation of the x-ray source, the single rotation being divided into a first half-scan and a second half-scan. The controller is further configured to position the dynamic collimator after acquiring image data from one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan and simultaneous to commencement of acquiring image data from the other of the first half-scan and the second half-scan to obstruct a central portion of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray source during one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan. The CT scanner is further configured to reconstruct a CT image using the first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20120106695
    Abstract: A CT scanner comprising a dynamic collimator disposed near an x-ray source and a controller configured to rotate the x-ray source about a subject, wherein imaging data is acquired from a single rotation of the x-ray source, the single rotation being divided into a first half-scan and a second half-scan. The controller is further configured to position the dynamic collimator after acquiring image data from one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan and simultaneous to commencement of acquiring image data from the other of the first half-scan and the second half-scan to obstruct a central portion of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray source during one of the first half-scan and the second half-scan. The CT scanner is further configured to reconstruct a CT image using the first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20110150171
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) system that includes a rotational gantry and a stationary structure communicatively coupled to the rotational gantry is provided. The rotational gantry includes an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray beam through a subject, an X-ray detector comprising one or more detector elements that receive incoming X-rays and to convert the incoming X-rays to image signals, and a data acquisition unit that processes the image signals to generate processed image data. The stationary structure is coupled to the rotational gantry via one or more slip rings that transfer the processed image data from the rotational gantry to stationary memory integral with the stationary structure via a bidirectional serial data exchange protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Breuer, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Steven John Woloschek, Scott David Slavic, Naveen Stephen Chandra, Paavana Sainath
  • Publication number: 20110142314
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes a computed tomography (CT) system having a rotatable gantry, an x-ray source, a generator, a detector having pixels and positioned to receive x-rays, and a computer. The computer is programmed to acquire CT data representative of an object, determine a first subset of the CT data, determine a second subset of the CT data, and determine a difference between the first and second subsets of the CT data to identify a motion region in the object. The computer is also programmed to update image data reconstructed from a first portion of the first subset of the CT data and corresponding to the region and reconstruct an image based on the updated image data and non-updated image data. The non-updated image data is reconstructed from a second portion the first subset of the CT data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Baojun Li, John Lawrence Seamans
  • Patent number: 7747057
    Abstract: A method for performing BIS correction includes scanning an object with a computed tomography (CT) system to obtain data, reconstructing an image using the obtained data, and using the image to perform BIS correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, Paavana Sainath, Thomas Louis Toth, Thomas John Myers, Mary Sue Kulpins, Xiangyang Tang, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 7583777
    Abstract: A method for producing an image of an object includes scanning an object with an imaging apparatus to collect projection data of the object utilizing cone sampling. The projection data is rebinned in a row-wise, fan-to-parallel fashion to produce rebinned data and the rebinned data is view-weighted to produce view-weighted data. The method further includes filtering the view-weighted data utilizing a row-wise ramp filter to produce filtered data and generating an image of the object utilizing the filtered data and a three-dimensional (3D) backprojection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiangyang Tang, Jiang Hsieh, Sandeep Dutta, Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 7539281
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus includes helically scanning the object with a radiation source utilizing the cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus, selecting radiation beams emitted by the radiation source passing through a pixel P, a Tam-window, and a Katsevich window, filtering the selected projection data, and reconstructing an image of the object utilizing the filtered selected projection data including projection data within the Katsevich window and outside the Tam-window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiangyang Tang, Jiang Hsieh, Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 7379527
    Abstract: A method for normalizing a calibration of a computed tomographic (CT) imaging apparatus having a plurality of detector rows includes utilizing a prestored, predetermined inversion matrix and CT numbers obtained from images of a phantom to determine normalized calibration vectors for each row of a plurality of detector rows, and storing the determined normalized calibration vectors for each row of the plurality of detector rows in a memory for use in subsequent image reconstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, Paavana Sainath, Ferry Tamtoro, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20070274581
    Abstract: A method for performing BIS correction includes scanning an object with a computed tomography (CT) system to obtain data, reconstructing an image using the obtained data, and using the image to perform BIS correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Xiaoye Wu, Paavana Sainath, Thomas Louis Toth, Thomas John Myers, Mary Sue Kulpins, Xiangyang Tang, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
  • Patent number: 7173996
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus includes helically scanning the object with a radiation source utilizing the cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus; selecting radiation beams emitted by the radiation source passing through a pixel P having a smallest cone angle in comparison with that of the conjugate rays of the radiation beam; and reconstructing an image of the object utilizing projection data obtained from the selected radiation beams while avoiding the use of redundant projection data from unselected conjugate rays of the selected radiation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiangyang Tang, Jiang Hsieh, Roy Arnulf Helge Nilsen