Patents by Inventor Thomas Rupprecht

Thomas Rupprecht 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: 8447380
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing functional lung illnesses, image exposures of the lungs are obtained at various phase points in time of the respiration of a subject, such as at maximum inhalation and maximum expiration, and the image exposures are segmented and at least two of the image exposures are compared on a segment-by-segment basis to identify a change in tissue density between the compared segments, as an indicator of lung functioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Sabine Rupprecht, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Zapke
  • Patent number: 8187166
    Abstract: A system for the implementation of minimally invasive diagnoses and interventions in the inside of the body of a patient has an endo-robot that has a linear magnet and carries measurement instruments and/or instruments for taking specimens and/or for treatment. The endo-robot is freely mobile within the body of a patient. A magnet system accepts the examination region of the patient and generates a 3D gradient field for remotely-controls movement and orientation of the endo-robot in the patient's body by interaction with the linear magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080269592
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing functional lung illnesses, image exposures of the lungs are obtained at various phase points in time of the respiration of a subject, such as at maximum inhalation and maximum expiration, and the image exposures are segmented and at least two of the image exposures are compared on a segment-by-segment basis to identify a change in tissue density between the compared segments, as an indicator of lung functioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Sabine Rupprecht, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Zapke
  • Publication number: 20060200065
    Abstract: An implantable fluid valve for the adjustable limitation of the fluid pressure in the brain of a patient has all valve component parts composed of non-magnetic material, thereby making the valve MR-compatible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 7066901
    Abstract: An implantable fluid valve for the adjustable limitation of the fluid pressure in the brain of a patient, has all valve component parts composed of non-magnetic material, thereby making the valve MR-compatible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 6650924
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the recognition of pneumothorax using thorax MR exposures, an evaluation device segments the image of the rib cage, including its surroundings, and characterizes a zone detected between rib cage and lung, preferably in the exhaled condition, that has an MR signal elevated by a prescribed safety margin compared to the noise signal in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Wagner
  • Patent number: 6611703
    Abstract: An apparatus for examining contrast agent movement in the body of a patient under the effect of gravity has an MR scanner with a patient support system which can be tilted around the longitudinal axis and/or transverse center axis for placing the patient in an oblique position within the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Publication number: 20030120147
    Abstract: In a method for the high-precision determination of the body fat content, whereby the test subject is measured with an MR scanner tuned to the fat resonant frequency and the resulting MR images are analyzed as to the areas therein representing fat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Wagner
  • Publication number: 20030060702
    Abstract: A system for the implementation of minimally invasive diagnoses and interventions in the inside of the body of a patient has an endo-robot that has a linear magnet and carries measurement instruments and/or instruments for taking specimens and/or for treatment. The endo-robot is freely mobile within the body of a of a patient. A magnet system accepts the examination region of the patient and generates a 3D gradient field for remotely-controls movement and orientation of the endo-robot in the patient's body by interaction with the linear magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Wagner
  • Patent number: 6519489
    Abstract: In a method for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging, a contrast agent is directing injected into volumes containing cerebrospinal fluid and a magnetic resonance image of those volumes is obtained. After a suitable waiting time, at least one further magnetic resonance image of the volumes is obtained. The (at least) two magnetic resonance images of the volumes are then compared and the degree of perfusion of the contrast agent is identified as an indicator of the perfusion and/or flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Publication number: 20020183680
    Abstract: An implantable fluid valve for the adjustable limitation of the fluid pressure in the brain of a patient, has all valve component parts composed of non-magnetic material, thereby making the valve MR-compatible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Publication number: 20020161296
    Abstract: In a method for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging, a contrast agent is directing injected into volumes containing cerebrospinal fluid and a magnetic resonance image of those volumes is obtained. After a suitable waiting time, at least one further magnetic resonance image of the volumes is obtained. The (at least) two magnetic resonance images of the volumes are then compared and the degree of perfusion of the contrast agent is identified as an indicator of the perfusion and/or flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Publication number: 20020128549
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the recognition of pneumothorax using thorax MR exposures, an evaluation device segments the image of the rib cage, including its surroundings, and characterizes a zone detected between rib cage and lung, preferably in the exhaled condition, that has an MR signal elevated by a prescribed safety margin compared to the noise signal in air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht, Maren Wagner
  • Patent number: 6411088
    Abstract: For purposes of producing a transparency image in a transparency direction, a magnetic resonance device includes a basic field magnetic system for generating a basic magnetic field that exhibits a high homogeneity and a low flux density in at least one imaging volume, and an arrangement for executing a refocused gradient echo sequence, wherein two gradient fields, respectively oriented perpendicularly to the transparency direction, can be switched without slice selection, or for executing a refocused gradient echo sequence with a large slice thickness in the transparency direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Sabine Rupprecht, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 6338836
    Abstract: In an integrated asthma analysis and therapy determination method, a patient is administered hyperpolarized gas and an magnetic resonance (MR) scan is conducted to obtain a first MR image set, and the patient is then administered an allergen provoker and is again administered hyperpolarized gas and another MR scan is conducted, to obtain a second MR image set. This is followed by administering asthma therapeutics and again administering hyperpolarized gas to the subject, and another MR scan is conducted to obtain a third image data set. The first, second and third image data sets are compared among each other in order to determine the effect of the allergen provoker and the effect of the asthma therapeutics, in order to determine an appropriate medication dosage for the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 6334066
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring growth disorder therapy, a magnetic resonance image of a skeletal body portion, such as a hand, of a candidate for growth disorder therapy is obtained using an open magnetic resonance scanner and using an imaging sequence to produce a tomogram having a slice thickness which approximates the thickness of the hand. The number of visible wrist bones and the width of epiphysis joints in the magnetic resonance image is evaluated to obtain osteo age data, and the osteo age data, in conjunction with an atlas of compiled osteo age data, are used to determine the osteo age of the candidate for growth disorder therapy. The relationship between the osteo age of the candidate and the chronological age of the candidate is used to determine whether growth disorder therapy is required. If growth disorder therapy is administered, such as by administering a hormone, the above procedure is repeated after a predetermined time, and the status of the therapy is again evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rupprecht, Rainer Kuth
  • Patent number: 6308705
    Abstract: In a lung therapy method, hyperpolarized gas is administered for one breath to a subject, and a magnetic resonance scan of at least one lung of the subject is conducted. The data obtained from the scan are evaluated, specifically to determine the extent and distribution of infusion of hyperpolarized gas in the lung, as an indication of the alveolae in the lung which are open. Based on the evaluation of the data obtained in the magnetic resonance scan, a determination is made as to whether administration of a surfactant is necessary in order to improve opening of the lung. If a surfactant is administered, the procedure can be repeated to obtain an updated dataset, which can be evaluated to determine whether the administered surfactant has been effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rupprecht, Rainer Kuth
  • Publication number: 20010012914
    Abstract: An apparatus for examining contrast agent movement in the body of a patient under the effect of gravity has an MR scanner with a patient support system which can be tilted around the longitudinal axis and/or transverse center axis for placing the patient in an oblique position within the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Kuth, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 5735152
    Abstract: In a locking system comprising a lock unit and a key unit, each of which has an induction coil for transmitting power and data, the induction coil on the lock side is mounted by via a coil carrier on a lock body in the lock unit. Between the induction coil on the lock side and the lock body, there is a screening body which magnetically screens off the lock body from the induction coil on the lock side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Temic Telfunken Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Dietz, Matthias Kuhn, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 5506567
    Abstract: A process for monitoring an opening of an enclosed space by an IR alarm system, wherein: a measuring process is generated whereby a modulated IR beam is emitted by at least one IR emitting element of an optoelectronic unit in the form of a pulse and the beam reflected from marginal areas of the opening is detected as a measurement signal by at least one IR receiving element of the optoelectronic unit, with the directional characteristic of th IR beam being matched, by optical components in the path of the beam, to the opening being monitored; the measurement signal detected by the receiving element is compared with a mean value of the previous measurement signals, and a normal operating mode of the alarm system is initiated if there is an approximate correlation between the measurement signal and the mean value, or an alarm operating mode of the alarm system is initiated if there is a significant deviation between the measurement signal and the mean value; in the normal operating mode, the next measuring proc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Temic Telefunken microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Bichlmaier, Ferdinand Friedrich, Dieter Grafje, Udo Teubert, Hans-Joachim Fach, Thomas Rupprecht, Reiner Doefler, Rainer Ertel, Gerhard Hettich, Werner Wiedemann, Peter Robitschko, Bernhard Dilz