Patents by Inventor Thomas Koehler

Thomas Koehler 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: 20170285187
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray detector device (10) for detection of X-ray radiation at an inclined angle relative to the X-ray radiation, an X-ray imaging system (1), an X-ray imaging method, and a computer program element for controlling such device or system for performing such method and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The X-ray detector device (10) comprises a cathode surface (11) and an anode surface (12). The cathode surface (11) and the anode surface (12) are displaced by a separation layer (13) allowing charge transport (T) between the cathode surface (11) and the anode surface (12) in response to X-ray radiation incident during operation on the cathode surface (11). The anode surface (12) is segmented into anode pixels (121) and the cathode surface (11) is segmented into cathode pixels (111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: EWALD ROESSL, THOMAS KOEHLER
  • Patent number: 9775580
    Abstract: A method includes modulating a flux of emission radiation between a first lower flux level and a second higher flux level in coordination with a cardiac cycle signal so that the flux is at the first lower flux level during a first cardiac motion phase having a first higher cardiac motion and is at the second higher flux level during a second cardiac motion phase having a second lower cardiac motion. The method further includes reconstructing the projection data with a first reconstruction window, which applies a first higher weight to a first sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the first cardiac motion phase and the lower first flux level and a second lower weight to a second sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the second cardiac motion phase and the higher second flux level, to generate first volumetric image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Roland Proksa, Thomas Koehler, Michael Grass
  • Publication number: 20170273647
    Abstract: A method includes receiving radiation with a hybrid data detection system of an imaging system. The hybrid data detection system includes a hybrid data detector array with a set of spectral detectors and a set of integrating detectors that are arranged along a transverse axis of an examination region. The method further includes generating a set of truncated spectral projections with the first set of spectral detectors. The method further includes estimating a set of spectral projections for the integrating detectors. The method further includes combining the set of truncated spectral projections and the estimated set of spectral projections. The method further includes estimating a set of spectral projections based on the combined set to produce a complete set of spectral projections. The method further includes processing the complete set of spectral projections to generate volumetric image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk SCHAFER, Michael GRASS, Thomas KOEHLER, Roland PROKSA
  • Patent number: 9767550
    Abstract: A method and a device for analyzing a region of interest in an object is proposed. The method comprises: (a) providing measurement data by a differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system, and (b) analyzing characteristics of the object in the region of interest. Therein, the measurement data comprise a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional set of pixels wherein for each pixel the measurement data comprises three types of image data spatially aligned with each other, including (i) absorption representing image data A, (ii) differential phase contrast representing image data D, and (iii) coherence representing image data C. The analyzing step is based, for each pixel, on a combination of at least two of information comprised in the absorption representing image data A and information comprised in the differential phase contrast representing image data D and information comprised in the coherence representing image data C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ingwer-Curt Carlsen, Thomas Koehler, Gerhard Martens, Ewald Rossl, Rafael Wiemker
  • Publication number: 20170258411
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stereo tube radiation imaging system in which radiation emitted from each radiation source covers a different area of the detector surface. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a stereo tube imaging method wherein both radiation sources are operated independently and each cover part of the detector surface area. This is advantageous in that it may reduce radiation dose compared to known stereo tube imaging and introduces new possibilities for stereo tube imaging, such as improved object tracking within a body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas KOEHLER, Michael GRASS, Roland PROKSA
  • Patent number: 9760992
    Abstract: A method includes re-sampling current image data representing a reference motion state into a plurality of different groups, each group corresponding to a different motion state of moving tissue of interest, forward projecting each of the plurality of groups, generating a plurality of groups of forward projected data, each group of forward projected data corresponding to a group of the re-sampled current image data, determining update projection data based on a comparison between the forward projected data and the measured projection data, grouping the update projection data into a plurality of groups, each group corresponding to a different motion state of the moving tissue of interest, back projecting each of the plurality of groups, generating a plurality of groups of update image data, re-sampling each group of update image data to the reference motion state of the current image, and generating new current image data based on the current image data and the re-sampled update image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Johannes Brendel, Thomas Koehler, Rolf Dieter Bippus, Roland Proksa
  • Patent number: 9761024
    Abstract: A computing system (116) includes a reconstruction processor (114) configured to execute computer readable instructions, which cause the reconstruction processor to: receive, in electronic format, non-spectral projection data, reconstruct the non-spectral projection data to generate a non-spectral image, retrieve a non-spectral to spectral voxel value map for a basis material of interest from a set of non-spectral to spectral voxel value maps, generate a spectral iterative reconstruction start image based on the non-spectral image and the non-spectral to spectral voxel value map, and reconstruct a spectral image, in electronic format, for the material basis of interest from the non-spectral projection data with a spectral iterative reconstruction algorithm and the spectral iterative reconstruction start image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Roland Proksa, Thomas Koehler
  • Patent number: 9761023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for iterative reconstruction of images recorded by at least two imaging methods, the device comprising: an extraction module (10), which is configured to extract a first set of patches from a first image recorded by a first imaging method and to extract a second set of patches from a second image recorded by a second imaging method; a generation module (20), which is configured to generate a set of reference patches based on a merging of a first limited number of atoms for the first set of patches and of a second limited number of atoms for the second set of patches; and a regularization module (30), which is configured to perform a regularization of the first image or the second image by means of the generated set of reference patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Frank Bergner, Roland Proksa
  • Patent number: 9761006
    Abstract: Image processing methods and related apparatuses (SEG,UV). The apparatuses (SEG,UV) operate to utilize noise signal information in images (IM). According to one aspect, apparatus (SEG) uses the noise information (FX) to control a model based segmentation. According to a further aspect, apparatus (UV) operates, based on the noise information (FX), to visualize the uncertainty of image information that resides at edge portions of the or an image (IM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Frank Bergner, Rolf Dieter Bippus, Bernhard Johannes Brendel, Michael Grass, Cristian Lorenz, Thomas Koehler
  • Patent number: 9761021
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a dark-field signal generated from a dark-field CT scan of an object, wherein the dark-field CT scan is at least a 360 degree scan. The method further includes weighting the dark-field signal. The method further includes performing a cone beam reconstruction of the weighted dark-field signal over the 360 degree scan, thereby generating volumetric image data. For an axial cone-beam CT scan, in one non-limiting instance, the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan FDK cone beam reconstruction. For a helical cone-beam CT scan, in one non-limiting instance, the dark-field signal is rebinned to wedge geometry and the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan aperture weighted wedge reconstruction. For a helical cone-beam CT scan, in another non-limiting instance, the dark-field signal is rebinned to wedge geometry and the cone-beam reconstruction is a full scan angular weighted wedge reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Bernhard Johannes Brendel, Ewald Roessl, Udo van Stevendaal
  • Patent number: 9761905
    Abstract: A lithium ion-conducting compound, having a garnet-like crystal structure, and having the general formula: Lin[A(3-a?-a?)A?(a?)A?(a?)][B(2-b?-b?)B?(b?)B?(b?)][C?(c?)C?(c?)]O12, where A, A?, A? stand for a dodecahedral position of the crystal structure, where A stands for La, Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and/or Yb, A? stands for Ca, Sr and/or Ba, A? stands for Na and/or K, 0<a?<2 and 0<a?<1, where B, B?, B? stand for an octahedral position of the crystal structure, where B stands for Zr, Hf and/or Sn, B? stands for Ta, Nb, Sb and/or Bi, B? stands for at least one element selected from the group including Te, W and Mo, 0<b?<2 and 0<b?<2, where C and C? stand for a tetrahedral position of the crystal structure, where C stands for Al and Ga, C? stands for Si and/or Ge, 0<c?<0.5 and 0<c?<0.4, and where n=7+a?+2·a??b??2·b??3·c??4·c? and 5.5<n<6.875.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Eisele, Thomas Koehler, Stefan Hinderberger, Boris Kozinsky, Alan Logeat
  • Patent number: 9750465
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of X-ray differential phase contrast imaging. For scanning large objects and for an improved contrast to noise ratio, an X-ray device (10) for imaging an object (18) is provided. The X-ray device (10) comprises an X-ray emitter arrangement (12) and an X-ray detector arrangement (14), wherein the X-ray emitter arrangement (14) is adapted to emit an X-ray beam (16) through the object (18) onto the X-ray detector arrangement (14). The X-ray beam (16) is at least partial spatial coherent and fan-shaped. The X-ray detector arrangement (14) comprises a phase grating (50) and an absorber grating (52). The X-ray detector arrangement (14) comprises an area detector (54) for detecting X-rays, wherein the X-ray device is adapted to generate image data from the detected X-rays and to extract phase information from the X-ray image data, the phase information relating to a phase shift of X-rays caused by the object (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Klaus Juergen Engel, Dieter Geller, Gereon Vogtmeier, Thomas Koehler
  • Publication number: 20170243378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for iterative reconstruction of images recorded by at least two imaging methods, the device comprising: an extraction module (10), which is configured to extract a first set of patches from a first image recorded by a first imaging method and to extract a second set of patches from a second image recorded by a second imaging method; a generation module (20), which is configured to generate a set of reference patches based on a merging of a first limited number of atoms for the first set of patches and of a second limited number of atoms for the second set of patches; and a regularization module (30), which is configured to perform a regularization of the first image or the second image by means of the generated set of reference patches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas KOEHLER, Frank BERGNER, Roland PROKSA
  • Publication number: 20170243380
    Abstract: A computing system (116) includes a reconstruction processor (114) configured to execute computer readable instructions, which cause the reconstruction processor to: receive, in electronic format, non-spectral projection data, reconstruct the non-spectral projection data to generate a non-spectral image, retrieve a non-spectral to spectral voxel value map for a basis material of interest from a set of non-spectral to spectral voxel value maps, generate a spectral iterative reconstruction start image based on the non-spectral image and the non-spectral to spectral voxel value map, and reconstruct a spectral image, in electronic format, for the material basis of interest from the non-spectral projection data with a spectral iterative reconstruction algorithm and the spectral iterative reconstruction start image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Roland PROKSA, Thomas KOEHLER
  • Publication number: 20170231590
    Abstract: A method includes modulating a flux of emission radiation between a first lower flux level and a second higher flux level in coordination with a cardiac cycle signal so that the flux is at the first lower flux level during a first cardiac motion phase having a first higher cardiac motion and is at the second higher flux level during a second cardiac motion phase having a second lower cardiac motion. The method further includes reconstructing the projection data with a first reconstruction window, which applies a first higher weight to a first sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the first cardiac motion phase and the lower first flux level and a second lower weight to a second sub-set of the projection data that corresponds to the second cardiac motion phase and the higher second flux level, to generate first volumetric image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Roland PROKSA, Thomas KOEHLER, Michael GRASS
  • Patent number: 9730663
    Abstract: When performing model-based segmentation on a 3D patient image (80), metal artifacts in the patient image (80), caused by metal in the patient's body, are detected, and a metal artifact reduction technique is performed to reduce the artifact(s) by interpolation projection data in the region of the artifact(s). The interpolated data is used to generate an uncertainty map for artifact-affected voxels in the image, and a mesh model (78) is conformed to the image to facilitate segmentation thereof. Internal and external energies applied to push and pull the model (78) are weighted as a function of the uncertainty associated with one or more voxels in the image (80). Iteratively, mathematical representations of the energies and respective weights are solved to describe an updated model shape that more closely aligns to the image (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Holger Schmitt, Heinrich Schulz
  • Patent number: 9724903
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat radiator, especially an infrared radiator, having at least one radiation source by means of which supplied electrical energy is convertible into heat radiation, as well as a control. This control comprises at least one frequency converter having a first, a second and a third output so that between the first and the third output a first alternating current is providable and between the second and the third output a second alternating current is providable by means of which the at least one radiation source is operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: BRANSON ULTRASCHALL Niederlassung der Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Heiko Priem, Thomas Köhler
  • Publication number: 20170213365
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and a related method. In particular, the apparatus includes a novel image reconstructor to reconstruct cross sectional images of a specimen from interferometric projection data (m). The reconstructor (RECON) is based on a new forward model that accounts for cross-talk of a phase contrast signal into a dark field signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas KOEHLER, Bernhard Johannes BRENDEL
  • Publication number: 20170209108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grating device (50) for phase contrast and/or dark-field imaging of a movable object (34), an interferometer unit (20), a phase contrast and/or dark-field imaging system (10), a phase contrast and/or dark-field imaging method, a computer program element for controlling such device and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The grating device (50) comprises a grating unit (51), an actuation unit (52), a motion detecting unit (53), and a control unit (54). The actuation unit (52) is configured to position the grating unit (51) in different sampling positions relative to the moveable object (34). The motion detecting unit (53) is configured to detect a motion of the movable object (34). The detected motion of the moveable object (34) may be a repetitive motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Michael GRASS, Dirk SCHAFER, Thomas KOEHLER
  • Patent number: 9715458
    Abstract: A computer system has physical processors supporting virtual addressing. Virtual processors represent multiple execution threads, and logical state of all threads of a virtual processor is stored in a state descriptor field in main memory when the virtual processor is removed from one of the physical processors. Each thread has assigned a thread identifier, which is unique in the respective virtual processor only, and each virtual processor has assigned a unique state descriptor identifier. Address translations for the threads of the multiple virtual processors under their respective thread identifier and state descriptor identifier are stored, and a sequence number is generated when an entry in the translation lookaside buffer is created. The sequence number is stored together with a respective thread identifier, state descriptor identifier, and a valid bit in a respective translation lookaside buffer entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Koehler, Frank Lehnert