Patents by Inventor Thorsten Speckner

Thorsten Speckner 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: 11707250
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a medical device, (e.g., an imaging apparatus such as an X-ray device or magnetic resonance tomography unit), and a fault monitoring apparatus for carrying out the method. The fault monitoring apparatus is connected to the medical device via a signal connection. In the method, the fault monitoring apparatus receives an item of status information from the medical device and stores the item of status information in a system state. Further, the fault monitoring apparatus compares the stored system state with a predetermined target state, and, depending on the comparison, releases a function of the medical device, wherein the predetermined target state has a successfully executed function test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Swen Campagna, Thorsten Speckner, Wolfgang Gösswein, Carsten Prinz, Stephan Churt, Bernd Erbe
  • Patent number: 11693075
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography unit includes a transmitter, a transmission monitoring device for monitoring an excitation signal from the transmitter, and a plurality of transmit antennas. The magnetic resonance tomography unit also includes a switching device configured to bring the transmission monitoring device selectively into a signal connection to one transmit antenna of the plurality of transmit antennas. A method for operating the magnetic resonance tomography unit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 11675034
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a field generation unit and a supporting structure for providing structural support for the field generation unit, wherein the field generation unit comprises at least one magnet for generating a B0 magnetic field and an opening configured to provide access to an imaging volume positioned in the B0 magnetic field along at least one direction and wherein the at least one direction is angled with respect to a main direction of magnetic field lines of the B0 magnetic field in the imaging volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Mallett, Stefan Popescu, Adrian Mark Thomas, Stephan Biber, Matthias Gebhardt, Thorsten Speckner, Thomas Beck, Andreas Greiser
  • Patent number: 11662411
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling a fleet of MR-scanner systems by means of a user interface. Each MR scanner system in the fleet of MR scanner systems comprises a hardware layer having a plurality of electronically controllable components and mechanical components to perform an MR measurement and capture MR-scanner raw data, a Measurement And Reconstruction System (MARS) computing unit configured to implement a measurement framework using a sequence to calculate real-time instructions and transmit these instructions to the components of the hardware layer for controlling the MR-scanner system, and a communication interface for communicating with an external device. Each MR scanner system has system attributes, which are transmitted to the external device via the communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Speckner, Swen Campagna
  • Publication number: 20230098129
    Abstract: A method for actuating a magnetic resonance system having a radiofrequency unit designed to generate a radiofrequency pulse for the saturation of nuclear spins in an area under examination of an object under examination. The method includes loading a B0 map of the magnetic resonance system; loading frequency information on nuclear spins to be saturated in the area under examination; ascertaining at least one global RF saturation pulse for the global saturation of the nuclear spins to be saturated on the basis of the B0 map and the frequency information; and outputting the RF saturation pulse via the radiofrequency unit of the magnetic resonance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20220308145
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography unit includes a transmitter, a transmission monitoring device for monitoring an excitation signal from the transmitter, and a plurality of transmit antennas. The magnetic resonance tomography unit also includes a switching device configured to bring the transmission monitoring device selectively into a signal connection to one transmit antenna of the plurality of transmit antennas. A method for operating the magnetic resonance tomography unit is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20220160324
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a medical device, (e.g., an imaging apparatus such as an X-ray device or magnetic resonance tomography unit), and a fault monitoring apparatus for carrying out the method. The fault monitoring apparatus is connected to the medical device via a signal connection. In the method, the fault monitoring apparatus receives an item of status information from the medical device and stores the item of status information in a system state. Further, the fault monitoring apparatus compares the stored system state with a predetermined target state, and, depending on the comparison, releases a function of the medical device, wherein the predetermined target state has a successfully executed function test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Swen Campagna, Thorsten Speckner, Wolfgang Gösswein, Carsten Prinz, Stephan Churt, Bernd Erbe
  • Publication number: 20220137172
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling a fleet of MR-scanner systems by means of a user interface. Each MR scanner system in the fleet of MR scanner systems comprises a hardware layer having a plurality of electronically controllable components and mechanical components to perform an MR measurement and capture MR-scanner raw data, a Measurement And Reconstruction System (MARS) computing unit configured to implement a measurement framework using a sequence to calculate real-time instructions and transmit these instructions to the components of the hardware layer for controlling the MR-scanner system, and a communication interface for communicating with an external device. Each MR scanner system has system attributes, which are transmitted to the external device via the communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Speckner, Swen Campagna
  • Publication number: 20210341556
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment provides a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a field generation unit and a supporting structure for providing structural support for the field generation unit, wherein the field generation unit comprises at least one magnet for generating a B0 magnetic field and an opening configured to provide access to an imaging volume positioned in the B0 magnetic field along at least one direction and wherein the at least one direction is angled with respect to a main direction of magnetic field lines of the B0 magnetic field in the imaging volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Michael MALLETT, Stefan POPESCU, Adrian Mark THOMAS, Stephan BIBER, Matthias GEBHARDT, Thorsten SPECKNER, Thomas BECK, Andreas GREISER
  • Patent number: 10782380
    Abstract: In trigger-adapted MR data acquisition, a trigger from the object undergoing investigation is detected, by which a periodically repeated procedure of the object is detected. An imaging sequence is performed multiple times dependent on the trigger in order to acquire MR data. The imaging sequence includes at least one preparation pulse and a subsequent readout module, the readout module ending a first time period before an end of the procedure. The respective imaging sequence is performed only if RR?RR(0)?(dRR?dRR(B1)), wherein dRR(B1) is a second time period, RR corresponds is a first time interval between a trigger that is currently being detected and a trigger that was detected immediately before the currently detected trigger, and RR(0) is a second time interval that corresponds to a predefined time interval between two directly succeeding triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Dominik Paul, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20200225306
    Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic resonance device is provided. The magnetic resonance device includes a component that has an operating limit in relation to a state parameter. The component uses a protocol to record magnetic resonance data. The protocol includes a magnetic resonance sequence and is described by protocol parameters. A protocol parameter set that, in relation to a protocol section, allows the protocol section to be repeated as often as desired without exceeding the operating limit is provided or determined. The method includes receiving a boost parameter from a user interface. At least for the protocol section, adaptation parameters are determined at least partially automatically based on the boost parameter, such that the desired number of repetitions described by the boost parameter is established while complying with the operating limit. Magnetic resonance data is recorded with the protocol using the determined adaptation parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Andreas Greiser, David Grodzki, Bernd Kühn, Mathias Nittka, Dominik Paul, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 10422844
    Abstract: A method for setting a MRI sequence, a magnetic resonance device, and a computer program product are provided. The method includes providing, by a limitation unit, at least one limitation; providing, by a parameter provision unit, a plurality of parameters of the sequence, wherein at least one parameter of the plurality of parameters is assigned to a default parameter value; selecting, by a selection unit, a parameter of the plurality of parameters; determining, by a simulation unit, at least one sequential pattern based on at least one default parameter value of the default parameter values; determining, by an analysis unit, a permissible range of parameter values of the selected parameter based on at least one sequential pattern and the at least one limitation; and establishing, by an establishment unit, a new parameter value of the selected parameter within the permissible range of the parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Andreas Greiser, Uvo Hölscher, Thorsten Speckner, David Grodzki, Mathias Nittka, Daniel Nico Splitthoff
  • Patent number: 10303355
    Abstract: In a method for planning a medical imaging examination, as well as a graphical interface and a medical imaging apparatus and a storage medium for implementing the method, a planning environment for the planning of the medical imaging examination is provided on a touch display of a graphical interface, at least one imaging parameter for the medical imaging examination is specified by a manual input on the touch display, and information is provided on the touch display in response to the manual input, the information being presented haptically on the touch display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Beckmann, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Patent number: 10254364
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a slice orientation for an examination using a magnetic resonance machine is provided. One or more device limitation of the magnetic resonance machine is provided. The device limitation includes, for at least one of the one or more gradient axes, a maximum gradient strength and/or a maximum gradient slew rate. At least one measurement parameter value of the examination and an original slice orientation are also provided. Rotational-angle information is determined from device limitations, measurement parameter values, and the original slice orientation. The rotational-angle information is used to optimize the original slice orientation, and the magnetic resonance machine captures measurement data on the basis of the optimized slice orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 10241175
    Abstract: In a method for operating a medical imaging examination apparatus having multiple subsystems controlled by a control computer in a scan sequence, a control protocol for the scan is provided to the control computer, which determines sequence control data for the control protocol that define different functional subsequences of the scan, with different effective volumes assigned to each functional subsequence. Current ambient conditions of the apparatus are determined that are decisive for the determined relevant sequence control data and associated effective volumes. Control signals for the scan are determined from the sequence control data, the effective volumes and the current ambient conditions determined that optimize the functional subsequences of the scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Benner, Swen Campagna, Thorsten Feiweier, Bernd Kuehn, Thomas Loeffler, Thorsten Speckner, Peter Speier, Daniel Nico Splitthoff, Stephan Stoecker, Johann Sukkau, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 10216376
    Abstract: In a method and medical imaging apparatus for specifying a position of a patient with respect to the isocenter of the scanner of the medical imaging apparatus, position data of the patient are acquired before introducing the patient into the patient-receiving region of the scanner and the acquired position data are evaluated with respect to a patient image. The patient image is transferred to a graphic interface, wherein the patient image is displayed. A position of a patient with respect to the isocenter is specified by determining at least one localization point in the patient image via the graphic interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Donald Hardie, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Patent number: 10156622
    Abstract: In a method, magnetic resonance apparatus, and pulse optimization computer for determining a pulse sequence for radial sampling of k-space in magnetic resonance imaging, the amplitudes and the increases with respect to time of readout gradients and phase gradients for individual sections of k-space are determined depending on an orientation of the respective section in k-space and depending on global maximum values of the amplitudes and the increases of the gradients on the physical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 10145918
    Abstract: A method for emitting a sequence of high frequency pulses that may have different envelopes in a magnetic resonance tomography system is provided. A digital instruction signal that specifies the envelope for the high frequency pulses that are to be emitted is received. A digital control signal is transmitted to a high frequency unit for generating high frequency pulses, depending on the instruction signal. A test signal that allows notification of a current overload situation is received. The current control signal is reduced if the test signal indicates an overload situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolaus Demharter, Klaus Huber, Claus Seisenberger, Thorsten Speckner, Markus Vester, Christian Wünsch
  • Patent number: 10114097
    Abstract: In a method for operating a medical imaging examination apparatus having multiple subsystems, current ambient conditions in a scan volume of the apparatus are determined and stored in a global ambient condition parameter set. A control computer starts a scan sequence according to a selected scan protocol, and sequence control data that define different functional sub-sequences for the respective subsystems are provided to the control computer. Different effective volumes are assigned to each functional sub-sequence, and respective current sub-regions in the effective volume associated with the respective sub-sequence are determined, in which a volume optimization is to take place. Control signals for the scan sequence are calculated using the sequence control data, the global ambient condition parameter set, and the determined current sub-regions of the affected volumes, in order to optimize the functional sub-sequences at least with regard to the current sub-region of the assigned effective volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Benner, Swen Campagna, Thorsten Feiweier, Bernd Kuehn, Thorsten Speckner, Peter Speier, Daniel Nico Splitthoff, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 10101425
    Abstract: In a method for operating a medical imaging apparatus having subsystems, a control protocol assigned to a scan sequence to be performed is provided to a control computer that determines sequence control data for the control protocol, which define different functional subsequences of the scan sequence. Different effective volumes are assigned to each functional subsequence, and current ambient conditions of the apparatus are determined for the sequence control data and associated effective volumes, for a series of states of physiological processes that occur during the scan sequence. Control signals for the scan sequence are determined from the sequence control data, the effective volumes and the current ambient conditions per observed state, that optimize the functional subsequences of the scan sequence locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Benner, Swen Campagna, Thorsten Feiweier, Bernd Kuehn, Thorsten Speckner, Peter Speier, Daniel Nico Splitthoff