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: 10061001
    Abstract: In a method for determining time windows in a scan sequence, in which values of setting parameters of a scan can be changed during a current scan without adversely affecting the scan data obtained with the scan, comprising the following a scan sequence is loaded into a control computer, that then determines the time windows in the scan sequence in which values of setting parameters can be changed during a current scan, on the basis of an analysis of useful coherences in the scan sequence. The determined time windows are stored or processed so as to be available to operate an imaging apparatus to execute the scan sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Benner, Swen Campagna, Thorsten Feiweier, Bernd Kuehn, Thorsten Speckner, Peter Speier, Daniel Nico Splitthoff
  • Patent number: 9989617
    Abstract: A B1 magnetic field may be regulated during a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) imaging sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Nistler, David Andrew Porter, Thorsten Speckner, Christian Wünsch
  • Patent number: 9891304
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to continuously correct phase errors in a magnetic resonance measurement sequence in which multiple sequentially radiated, multidimensional, spatially-selective radio-frequency excitation pulses are used, multiple calibration gradient echoes are acquired in a calibration acquisition sequence and a correction value for a phase response and a correction value for a phase difference are calculated from the multiple calibration gradient echoes. Furthermore, an additional radio-frequency excitation pulse is radiated takes into account the correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9891303
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance system to correct phase errors in multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulses in a pulse sequence used to operate the system to acquire magnetic resonance data, a multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulse is radiated and multiple calibration gradient echoes are acquired. A phase correction and a time correction of the multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulse is then calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9829548
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus to determine a subject-specific B1 distribution of an examination subject in a measurement volume in the magnetic resonance apparatus, a first measurement data set of the examination subject is acquired using a first pulse sequence, a second measurement data set of the examination subject is acquired using a second pulse sequence, and a third measurement data set of the examination subject is acquired using a third pulse sequence. A first phase is determined from the first measurement data set, a second phase from the second measurement data set and a third phase from the third measurement data set. A relevant phase shift is calculated from the first phase, the second phase and the third phase, and the B1 distribution are determined from the calculated relevant phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Koehler, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20170328975
    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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Dominik Paul, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9817092
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnet unit that includes at least one superconducting basic magnetic field coil, a magnet housing unit surrounding the at least one superconducting basic magnetic field coil, a cooling system that has at least one cooling loop and a heat absorption unit to cool the at least one superconducting basic magnetic coil, and an additional unit. The cooling system has a switching unit with at least one first cooling mode, and the switching unit couples the at least one cooling loop of the cooling system with the additional unit for a heat exchange in the first cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20170261583
    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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Thorsten SPECKNER
  • Patent number: 9714996
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to a B1-map establishment system for establishing B1-maps, operating using a method including: establishing a number of relative B1-maps and storing the relative B1-maps for subsequent, in particular repeated use. The B1-maps are used in a method for establishing an actuation sequence including: establishing a quantitative B1-map. establishing normalized B1-maps on the basis of the relative B1-maps and the quantitative B1-map, and establishing an actuation sequence or acquiring magnetic resonance measurement data using the normalized B1-maps. Furthermore, the embodiments relate to an actuation sequence establishment system and a magnetic resonance imaging system including such an actuation sequence establishment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Schmidt, Thorsten Speckner, Johann Sukkau, Michael Wullenweber
  • Publication number: 20170205483
    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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Andreas Greiser, Uvo Hölscher, Thorsten Speckner, David Grodzki, Mathias Nittka, Daniel Nico Splitthoff
  • Patent number: 9696394
    Abstract: A controller of a magnetic resonance system outputs a low frequency base signal to a conversion device. While outputting the base signal to the conversion device, the controller outputs an oscillator control signal to an oscillator. The oscillator outputs a frequency signal corresponding to the oscillator control signal to the conversion device. The conversion device converts the frequency signal into a high frequency transmit pulse with the aid of the base signal and outputs the transmit pulse to a magnetic resonance transmit antenna. The magnetic resonance transmit antenna applies a high frequency field corresponding to a transmit pulse to an examination volume of the magnetic resonance system. The controller varies the oscillator control signal output to the oscillator while outputting the base signal to the modulator. The transmit pulse) has a larger bandwidth than the base signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Gebhardt, Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9651642
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to acquire MR data within a volume segment, the MR data are repeatedly acquired with a sequence that which includes the following steps. A first resonant RF pulse is radiated and a second resonant RF pulse is radiated. A dephasing first gradient is applied after the first resonant RF pulse and before the second resonant RF pulse. A third resonant RF pulse is radiated after the second resonant RF pulse. A second gradient is applied after the third RF pulse in order to refocus a stimulated echo of a magnetization component prepared by the first gradient. MR data are read out, and a fourth resonant RF pulse is radiated after the readout of the MR data, to reduce the longitudinal magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Koehler, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9625546
    Abstract: In a method to acquire magnetic resonance (MR) data within a volume segment with a magnetic resonance system, the MR data are repeatedly acquired with a sequence that includes radiating a first resonant RF pulse, radiating a second resonant RF pulse, applying a dephasing first gradient after the first resonant RF pulse and before the second resonant RF pulse, radiating a third resonant RF pulse after the second resonant RF pulse, applying a second gradient after the third RF pulse in order to refocus a stimulated echo of a magnetization component prepared by the first gradient, and read out MR data. At least one of the first gradient and/or the second gradient is/are different in a respective repetition of the sequence and an additional repetition of the sequence that directly follows the respective repetition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Koehler, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20170045594
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20170027538
    Abstract: In a method for communication between a user and a medical network into which at least one medical imaging device is integrated, using mobile data glasses, the mobile data glasses are connected to the medical network by a network unit, and a medical examination to be conducted on a patient is selected from a database by a communication unit. At least one item of examination-relevant information of the medical examination to be conducted on the patient is also selected by the communication unit. The at least one item of examination-relevant information is displayed at the mobile data glasses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Katharina Aschoff, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Patent number: 9547064
    Abstract: A method for the control of a magnetic resonance system is provided. In a test phase before a magnetic resonance measurement, a test high-frequency pulse with several parallel individual high-frequency pulses is transmitted with a transmitter antenna arrangement over various different high-frequency transmitter channels. At lower transmitter power, the test high-frequency pulse generates essentially the same field distribution as an excitation high-frequency pulse to be transmitted during a subsequent magnetic resonance measurement. A high-frequency field generated by this test high-frequency pulse is measured in at least one area of a local pulse arrangement, and on the basis of the high-frequency field measured, a high-frequency field value that is to be anticipated at the local coil arrangement during the subsequent magnetic resonance measurement is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Helmut Greim, Juergen Nistler, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20160367169
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the selection of at least one item of examination information for a medical imaging examination before the medical imaging examination begins, position data of the patient are detected using a position detector. For this purpose, the patient is disposed for the medical imaging examination on a patient support of a medical imaging device. The detected position data are evaluated by a position data evaluation processor, with a patient image that shows a surface image of the patient being created on the basis of the detected position data. The position data evaluation processor determines multiple items of examination information on the basis of the surface image. The multiple items of examination information are presented at an output interface. A selection of at least one item of examination information for the impending medical imaging examination is then made from the multiple displayed items of examination information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Donald Hardie, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Publication number: 20160367142
    Abstract: In a method for operating a medical imaging apparatus of a medical imaging system during a medical imaging examination, wherein the medical imaging system includes the medical imaging apparatus, which has a scanner for the acquisition of medical image data and which is arranged within an examination area, and a system-control unit, which has an operation-control module and which is arranged within a control area, the medical imaging system comprises a user interface, which is arranged within the examination area, wherein an output of information and/or suggestions and/or an input of parameters and/or information for operating the medical imaging apparatus during an implementation of the medical imaging examination ensues via the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Donald Hardie, Anja Kuerten, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Publication number: 20160266760
    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: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Beckmann, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene
  • Publication number: 20160202864
    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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Donald Hardie, Anja Jaeger, Stephan Nufer, Thorsten Speckner, Jens Thoene