Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Vaughan
Thomas A. Vaughan 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).
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Patent number: 9995803Abstract: A progressive series of five new coils is described. The first coil solves problems of transmit-field inefficiency and inhomogeneity for heart and body imaging, with a close-fitting, 16-channel TEM conformal array design with efficient shield-capacitance decoupling. The second coil progresses directly from the first with automatic tuning and matching, an innovation of huge importance for multi-channel transmit coils. The third coil combines the second, auto-tuned multi-channel transmitter with a 32-channel receiver for best transmit-efficiency, control, receive-sensitivity and parallel-imaging performance. The final two coils extend the innovative technology of the first three coils to multi-nuclear (31P—1H) designs to make practical human-cardiac imaging and spectroscopy possible for the first time at 7 T.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Life Services, LLCInventors: J. Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
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Patent number: 9977101Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes amplifiers for transceiver antenna elements, and more specifically to power amplifying an RF (radio frequency) signal using a distributed power amplifier having electronic devices (such as field-effect transistors) that are thermally and/or mechanically connected to each one of a plurality of antenna elements (also called coil elements) to form a hybrid coil-amplifier (e.g., for use in a magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy machine), and that is optionally adjusted from a remote location, optionally including remotely adjusting its gains, electrical resistances, inductances, and/or capacitances (which controls the magnitude, phase, frequency, spatial profile, and temporal profile of the RF signal)—and, in some embodiments, the components are compatible with, and function in, high fields (such as a magnetic field of up to and exceeding one tesla or even ten tesla or more and/or an electric field of many thousands of volts per meter).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignees: Regents fo the University of Minnesota, Life Services, LLCInventors: Charles A. Lemaire, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9903928Abstract: A method for generating a magnetic resonance image includes configuring a magnetic field to correspond to a trajectory within a region of interest. The method includes applying RF excitation to spatially control a region of magnetic resonance corresponding to the trajectory. The method includes modulating the magnetic field coincident with the spatially controlled region of magnetic resonance. The method includes acquiring data corresponding to the region of magnetic resonance and generating an image based on the data.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Angela Lynn Styczynski Snyder, Carl J. Snyder, Michael G. Garwood, J. Thomas Vaughan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9847471Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes providing a variable-parameter electrical component in a high-field environment and based on an electrical signal, automatically moving a movable portion of the electrical component in relation to another portion of the electrical component to vary at least one of its parameters. In some embodiments, the moving uses a mechanical movement device (e.g., a linear positioner, rotary motor, or pump). In some embodiments of the method, the electrical component has a variable inductance, capacitance, and/or resistance. Some embodiments include using a computer that controls the moving of the movable portion of the electrical component in order to vary an electrical parameter of the electrical component. Some embodiments include using a feedback signal to provide feedback control in order to adjust and/or maintain the electrical parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Life Services, LLCInventors: Carl J. Snyder, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
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Patent number: 9568572Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a radio frequency magnetic coil is coupled to a wireless communication circuit. The wireless communication circuit allows control or monitoring of individual channels or other functions of a coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventor: J. Thomas Vaughan
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Patent number: 9500727Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting electrical performance of a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during a medical imaging process of a subject to control changes in loading conditions of the RF coil caused by the subject during the medical imaging process.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Sung-Min Sohn, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Anand Gopinath
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Patent number: 9360543Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming algorithms for transmit-receive parallel magnetic resonance imaging (“pMRI”) applications are described. For any transmit configuration (e.g., using a single or multiple transmit elements) a weighted sum of the complex image data from each receiver is formed with a spatially-varying weighting. The weighting factor is obtained by solving an optimal refocusing problem at a set of points in the image space, which can include all the pixels in the image. The optimal refocusing of the transmit-receive configuration accounts for the spatially-varying SNR in deriving the coefficients of the weighted sum at every image pixel.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Anand Gopinath, Emad S. Ebbini, John Thomas Vaughan, Lance DelaBarre
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Publication number: 20150338478Abstract: Apparatus and method that are more efficient and flexible, and obtain and connect high-power RF transmit signals (TX) to RF-coil devices in an MR machine or other devices and simultaneously receive signals (RX) and separate net receive signals NRX) of interest by subtracting or filtering to remove the subtractable portion of the transmit signal (STX) from the RX and preamplifying the NRX and signal processing the preamplified NRX. In some embodiments, signal processing further removes artifacts of the transmitted signal, e.g., by digitizing the NRX signal, storing the digitized NRX signal in a memory, and performing digital signal processing. In some embodiments, the present invention also includes pre-distorting the TX signals in order to be better able to identify and/or remove the remaining artifacts of the transmitted signal from the NRX signal. This solution also applies to other high-power RF-transmit-antennae signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Scott M. Schillak, John Thomas Vaughan, JR., Charles A. Lemaire, Matthew T. Waks
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Patent number: 9097769Abstract: Apparatus and method that are more efficient and flexible, and obtain and connect high-power RF transmit signals (TX) to RF-coil devices in an MR machine or other devices and simultaneously receive signals (RX) and separate net receive signals NRX) of interest by subtracting or filtering to remove the subtractable portion of the transmit signal (STX) from the RX and preamplifying the NRX and signal processing the preamplified NRX. In some embodiments, signal processing further removes artifacts of the transmitted signal, e.g., by digitizing the NRX signal, storing the digitized NRX signal in a memory, and performing digital signal processing. In some embodiments, the present invention also includes pre-distorting the TX signals in order to be better able to identify and/or remove the remaining artifacts of the transmitted signal from the NRX signal. This solution also applies to other high-power RF-transmit-antennae signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignees: Life Services, LLC, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Scott M. Schillak, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire, Matthew T. Waks
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Patent number: 9043221Abstract: Apparatus and method for optimizing different amounts of output products derived from an initial biomass material. The method includes obtaining economic data of costs and availability of raw materials and resources, and prices that would be paid for output products derived, performing calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products; and controlling processes that generate the output products. In some embodiments, the processes convert initial biomass materials into intermediate and output products, an economic engine that obtains economic data relating to costs of initial materials and prices that would be paid for output products derived from the raw materials, and performs calculations to determine an optimum amount of each of the output products, and valves that are controlled by the economic engine to route variable amounts of the initial biomass materials to the processes to obtain a mix of output products that provides an optimum profit.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Inventors: John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., William Charles Neely, Bruce J. Rader
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Publication number: 20150123660Abstract: A progressive series of five new coils is described. The first coil solves problems of transmit-field inefficiency and inhomogeneity for heart and body imaging, with a close-fitting, 16-channel TEM conformal array design with efficient shield-capacitance decoupling. The second coil progresses directly from the first with automatic tuning and matching, an innovation of huge importance for multi-channel transmit coils. The third coil combines the second, auto-tuned multi-channel transmitter with a 32-channel receiver for best transmit-efficiency, control, receive-sensitivity and parallel-imaging performance. The final two coils extend the innovative technology of the first three coils to multi-nuclear (31P—1H) designs to make practical human-cardiac imaging and spectroscopy possible for the first time at 7 T.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: J. Thomas Vaughan, JR., Charles A. Lemaire
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Publication number: 20150077117Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes providing a variable-parameter electrical component in a high-field environment and based on an electrical signal, automatically moving a movable portion of the electrical component in relation to another portion of the electrical component to vary at least one of its parameters. In some embodiments, the moving uses a mechanical movement device (e.g., a linear positioner, rotary motor, or pump). In some embodiments of the method, the electrical component has a variable inductance, capacitance, and/or resistance. Some embodiments include using a computer that controls the moving of the movable portion of the electrical component in order to vary an electrical parameter of the electrical component. Some embodiments include using a feedback signal to provide feedback control in order to adjust and/or maintain the electrical parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Carl J. Snyder, John Thomas Vaughan, JR., Charles A. Lemaire
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Patent number: 8854042Abstract: A progressive series of five new coils is described. The first coil solves problems of transmit-field inefficiency and inhomogeneity for heart and body imaging, with a close-fitting, 16-channel TEM conformal array design with efficient shield-capacitance decoupling. The second coil progresses directly from the first with automatic tuning and matching, an innovation of huge importance for multi-channel transmit coils. The third coil combines the second, auto-tuned multi-channel transmitter with a 32-channel receiver for best transmit-efficiency, control, receive-sensitivity and parallel-imaging performance. The final two coils extend the innovative technology of the first three coils to multi-nuclear (31P-1H) designs to make practical human-cardiac imaging and spectroscopy possible for the first time at 7 T.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignees: Life Services, LLC, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
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Patent number: 8816566Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes providing a variable-parameter electrical component in a high-field environment and based on an electrical signal, automatically moving a movable portion of the electrical component in relation to another portion of the electrical component to vary at least one of its parameters. In some embodiments, the moving uses a mechanical movement device (e.g., a linear positioner, rotary motor, or pump). In some embodiments of the method, the electrical component has a variable inductance, capacitance, and/or resistance. Some embodiments include using a computer that controls the moving of the movable portion of the electrical component in order to vary an electrical parameter of the electrical component. Some embodiments include using a feedback signal to provide feedback control in order to adjust and/or maintain the electrical parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignees: Life Services, LLC, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Carl J. Snyder, Jr., John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
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Publication number: 20140218028Abstract: A method for generating a magnetic resonance image includes configuring a magnetic field to correspond to a trajectory within a region of interest. The method includes applying RF excitation to spatially control a region of magnetic resonance corresponding to the trajectory. The method includes modulating the magnetic field coincident with the spatially controlled region of magnetic resonance. The method includes acquiring data corresponding to the region of magnetic resonance and generating an image based on the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Angela Lynn Styczynski Snyder, Carl J. Snyder, Michael G. Garwood, J. Thomas Vaughan, JR.
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Publication number: 20140097846Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes amplifiers for transceiver antenna elements, and more specifically to power amplifying an RF (radio frequency) signal using a distributed power amplifier having electronic devices (such as field-effect transistors) that are thermally and/or mechanically connected to each one of a plurality of antenna elements (also called coil elements) to form a hybrid coil-amplifier (e.g., for use in a magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy machine), and that is optionally adjusted from a remote location, optionally including remotely adjusting its gains, electrical resistances, inductances, and/or capacitances (which controls the magnitude, phase, frequency, spatial profile, and temporal profile of the RF signal)—and, in some embodiments, the components are compatible with, and function in, high fields (such as a magnetic field of up to and exceeding one tesla or even ten tesla or more and/or an electric field of many thousands of volts per meter).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicants: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Life Services, Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Lemaire, John Thomas Vaughan, Jr.
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Patent number: 8604791Abstract: Apparatus and method that includes amplifiers for transceiver antenna elements, and more specifically to power amplifying an RF (radio frequency) signal using a distributed power amplifier having electronic devices (such as field-effect transistors) that are thermally and/or mechanically connected to each one of a plurality of antenna elements (also called coil elements) to form a hybrid coil-amplifier (e.g., for use in a magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy machine), and that is optionally adjusted from a remote location, optionally including remotely adjusting its gains, electrical resistances, inductances, and/or capacitances (which controls the magnitude, phase, frequency, spatial profile, and temporal profile of the RF signal)—and, in some embodiments, the components are compatible with, and function in, high fields (such as a magnetic field of up to and exceeding one tesla or even ten tesla or more and/or an electric field of many thousands of volts per meter).Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignees: Life Services, LLC, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: John Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
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Publication number: 20130285659Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting electrical performance of a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during a medical imaging process of a subject to control changes in loading conditions of the RF coil caused by the subject during the medical imaging process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Sung-Min Sohn, John Thomas Vaughan, Anand Gopinath
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Publication number: 20130278260Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming algorithms for transmit-receive parallel magnetic resonance imaging (“pMRI”) applications are described. For any transmit configuration (e.g., using a single or multiple transmit elements) a weighted sum of the complex image data from each receiver is formed with a spatially-varying weighting. The weighting factor is obtained by solving an optimal refocusing problem at a set of points in the image space, which can include all the pixels in the image. The optimal refocusing of the transmit-receive configuration accounts for the spatially-varying SNR in deriving the coefficients of the weighted sum at every image pixel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Anand Gopinath, Emad S. Ebbini, John Thomas Vaughan, Lance DelaBarre
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Patent number: 8380266Abstract: An RF coil adjacent an imaging region includes a plurality of conducting coil elements, with each conducting coil element including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The RF coil also includes a capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements. A mutual coupling inductance between at least two conducting coil elements of the plurality of conducting coil elements is substantially cancelled by the capacitance between the distal portions of the at least two conducting coil elements.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: J. Thomas Vaughan, Jinfeng Tian