Patents by Inventor Stefan Stocker

Stefan Stocker 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: 20090267607
    Abstract: An arrangement for the adjustment of the homogeneity of a basic magnetic field in a magnetic resonance apparatus includes gradient coil support fashioned to support a gradient coil system. The gradient coil support has at least one channel that is fashioned to accommodate an associated shim tray. The shim tray is designed to accommodate ferromagnetic shim elements at predetermined positions in order to adjust the homogeneity of the basic magnetic field of the magnetic resonance apparatus. The shim tray has a first locking element coupled with it. The channel has a second locking element, and the first and second locking element are shaped such that both are positively connected with one another by a force produced by the basic magnetic field of the magnetic resonance apparatus upon activation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Eberler, Andreas Krug, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090267605
    Abstract: An arrangement for connection of gradient current feed lines in a magnetic resonance apparatus has an electrically insulating connection plate with at least one connection device. The connection device is fashioned to electrically connect a first gradient current feed line with a second gradient current feed line and is associated with a gradient coil that forms a gradient field via a supplied gradient current for a spatial direction. The supply ensues via the two gradient current feed lines connected with one another. A base plate that is fashioned for fastening the connection plate to a magnet housing of the magnetic resonance apparatus. An electrically insulating layer to damp vibrations of the connection plate is arranged between the base plate and the connection plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090261831
    Abstract: A gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus has a first conductor structure and a second conductor structure connected with one another so that windings of the gradient coil are formed. The first conductor structure is formed exclusively of planar, electrically conductive elements that are insulated from one another. The second conductor structure is formed exclusively of conductive wires insulated from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Sabrina Harter, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090221903
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance device having a PET unit for acquiring positron emission tomography data and a gradient coil, the PET unit includes a carrier tube on which at least one PET detector is arranged. In at least one embodiment, the carrier tube is arranged inside the gradient coil and is displaceably mounted in such a way that access to the PET detector is made possible by its displacement. This allows easy access to the PET detector during maintenance activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: James Corbeil, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7568947
    Abstract: A high current coaxial connection with two plug elements that can be connected with one another, in particular to connect a current-carrying coaxial line to a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, has two spring contact elements arranged coaxially to one another to establish the electrical contact between the two plug elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090179646
    Abstract: In a gradient coil and a method to manufacture a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus, the gradient coil has at least one saddle coil, the saddle coil having a spatially shaped, electrically conductive plate with a line-shaped recess penetrating the plate. Conductor structures that create a gradient magnetic field in an examination region when a current signal flows therethrough are formed by the recess and by the shaping of the plate. The recess is filled with an electrically insulating material before implementation of the spatial shaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Sascha Fath, Ralph Kimmlingen, Johann Schuster, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090149064
    Abstract: A high-current coaxial connection with two plug elements that can be connected with one another, in particular to connect a current-carrying coaxial conductor to a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, has a first and second coupling rings provided at the respective plug elements. The first coupling ring with a first thread is screwed onto one plug contact to be fixed to the plug element while the second coupling ring with a second thread that overlaps the first coupling ring, is screwed onto a mating thread section at the other plug element. Both coupling rings are rotationally locked relative to one another and the first thread and the second thread are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090146066
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for superposed magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography imaging. In at least one embodiment the device includes a gradient coil and a positron emission tomography unit (PET unit). The PET unit is arranged within the gradient coil and has a first shield against radiofrequency radiation which in part surrounds the PET unit, and a second shield against radiofrequency radiation is arranged on the gradient coil. The first shield is connected to the second shield to form a shield which is at least partly closed. This makes a closed shield for the PET unit possible, which nevertheless is still easily accessible for maintenance purposes due to the two-part design of the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Renz, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7528604
    Abstract: A gradient coil system for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a layer structure including a gradient coil layer and a cooling layer. The cooling layer is fashioned as a plate heat exchanger, composed of plates, for cooling the gradient coil layer. In this way, a highly efficient cooling of the gradient coil layer is achieved with a lower structural height compared to conventional tubular configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Gromoll, Norbert Huber, Johann Schuster, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7523538
    Abstract: Method for mounting a gradient coil in a cylindrical magnet of a magnetic resonance system and associated magnetic resonance system, wherein the exterior of the gradient coil is foam-bonded flat against the inner wall of the magnet at least in sections, at least one element being foamed in place during mounting, thus creating at least one continuous channel, said channel being used for the insertion of a cutting and/or separating tool for ripping open the foam bond between the gradient coil and the cylindrical magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7511499
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance device comprising a preferably essentially cylindrical vacuum housing containing a magnet together with a cooling device, said vacuum housing having an inner wall, an outer wall and two end walls, the inner wall and/or one or each end wall being fashioned as a composite component consisting of one or more components made of a non-metallic composite material and a plurality of metal components serving to provide mechanical reinforcement and having a lamellar or annular form for forming the inner wall or having the form of a segment of a circle for forming an end wall such that a reduction in eddy currents is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Ralph Kimmlingen, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7508209
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus has a gradient coil unit with passive shim devices inserted into side receptacles in the molded body of the gradient coil unit. Each shim device has a carrier with a number of metal elements, the metal elements being mounted on the carrier in linear succession and being situated essentially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090066463
    Abstract: In a method to produce a curved coil, in particular a sub-coil of a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus, at least one conductor is wound corresponding to a predetermined pattern on a winding plate, and a winding plate composed of multiple plate elements that are moveable relative to one another is used that is formed into a curved shape after the winding of the conductor, in which curved shape the conductor is fixed while maintaining the curved shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Kolbeck, Johann Schuster, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20090051362
    Abstract: An antenna unit for a PET/MRI scanner is disclosed, including a supporting tube in which at least one antenna for MR signals is arranged. In at least one embodiment, the supporting tube has at least one permeable section and one impermeable section, the permeable section of which has a greater permeability to PET quanta than the impermeable section. The antenna unit further includes a screen for radio-frequency signals which is arranged outside of the supporting tube and surrounds the latter. In at least one embodiment, an intermediate layer is arranged between the supporting tube and the screen and, in the region of the permeable section of the supporting tube, is composed of, at least in part, a material which has a permeability to PET quanta comparable to the permeable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jurgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7495444
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cooling device for a gradient coil, the cooling device having at least one flexible cooling tube arranged on a carrier plate configured in accordance with a predetermined pattern, the at least one cooling tube originally having a circular cross section, is laid in accordance with the predetermined pattern and is flattened to permanently deform its cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Schuster, Lothar Schoen, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7468606
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum housing for a magnetic resonance apparatus having a recess for leading through lead wires to elements located inside the vacuum housing, and a first lead-through bushing module. The first lead-through bushing module is provided with a first closing plate which is configured so as to vacuum-tightly seal the recess along with a second closing plate. The first bushing module is also provided with a first structural component that is to be at least partially led through the recess during assembly of the lead-through bushing module and whose size defines a minimum size of the recess, which is greater than the size of the first closing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eva Eberlein, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20080303524
    Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a combination of an MR tomograph and a positron emission tomograph having avalanche photodiodes as reception elements. In at least one embodiment, the intention is to ensure that the avalanche photodiodes are kept at a constant temperature despite the exposure to heat from the MR components. It is proposed, in at least one embodiment, that cooling by Peltier elements 5 should be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Lothar SCHON, Stefan STOCKER
  • Patent number: 7463029
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for arrangement between two surface coils of a gradient coil to dissipate the heat produced when current is supplied to the surface coils by a coolant flowing into the cooling apparatus, is formed as a flexible, mat-type surface structure, and has a coolant-holding space with at least one coolant inflow and at least one coolant outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7463028
    Abstract: A device for installing a gradient coil into a magnet of a magnetic resonance system has a frame with a coil carrier passing through the gradient coil and accommodating the gradient coil. The coil carrier is arranged on two lateral supports, upon which the frame stands on the base, with devices for generating an air cushion that carries the frame being provided on the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Dietz, Johann Schuster, Stefan Stocker
  • Publication number: 20080208035
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for superposed magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography imaging. The device includes a magnetic resonance imaging magnet which defines a longitudinal axis; a magnetic resonance imaging gradient coil arranged radially within the magnetic resonance imaging magnet; a magnetic resonance imaging RF coil arranged radially within the magnetic resonance imaging gradient coil; and a multiplicity of positron emission tomography detection units arranged in pairs opposite one another about the longitudinal axis. In at least one embodiment, the many positron emission tomography detection units are arranged radially within the magnetic resonance imaging gradient coil and can be inserted into the device and can be removed from the device along the longitudinal axis. In at least one embodiment, a carrier tube is provided having a multiplicity of pockets, which in each case extend along the longitudinal axis, for accommodating at least one positron emission tomography detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Jurgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Lothar Schon, Stefan Stocker