Patents by Inventor Tin-Su Pan
Tin-Su Pan 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: 7848790Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging using a variable speed patient positioning table are provided. The patient positioning table is configured to operate at a plurality of table speeds during acquisition of data from a selected region, such as the thorax region baying predefined cardiac and non-cardiac regions. In a non-cardiac region, the table is controlled to move at one speed and when the cardiac region is detected, the table is controlled to move at another speed, preferably faster than in the cardiac region to speed data acquisition and eliminate motion artifacts.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Tin-Su Pan, Steve Woloschek, H. David He
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Patent number: 7359535Abstract: A method for retrospective internal gating is described. The method includes acquiring images at multiple z-locations z1 . . . zn and at different times t1 . . . tn at each of the z-locations, and reordering the images at least one of the z-locations to obtain a synchronized image set.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Tin-Su Pan
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Patent number: 6865250Abstract: A method for image reconstruction and reducing patient dose, and an imaging system for accomplishing these methods, includes selecting a primary phase of a cardiac cycle and calculating compromised phase regions based on a selected compromised phase value. If the image position is located within the primary phase, then an image is generated at the primary phase. If the image position is not located within the primary phase, but is located within a compromised phase region, then an image is generated at the compromised phase region.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLCInventors: John Londt, Darin Okerlund, Tin-Su Pan
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Publication number: 20040258286Abstract: A method for retrospective internal gating is described. The method includes acquiring images at multiple z-locations z1. . . zn and at different times t1 . . . tn at each of the z-locations, and reordering the images at at least one of the z-locations to obtain a synchronized image set.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Tin-Su Pan
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Publication number: 20040120446Abstract: A method for image reconstruction and reducing patient dose, and an imaging system for accomplishing these methods, includes selecting a primary phase of a cardiac cycle and calculating compromised phase regions based on a selected compromised phase value. If the image position is located within the primary phase, then an image is generated at the primary phase. If the image position is not located within the primary phase, but is located within a compromised phase region, then an image is generated at the compromised phase region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2002Publication date: June 24, 2004Inventors: John Londt, Darin Okerlund, Tin-Su Pan
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Publication number: 20040081269Abstract: A system for registering images using retrospective gating, the system comprising: an imaging system; an object disposed to be communicated with the imaging system, wherein the imaging system generates image data responsive to said object; and a processing device. The processing device executes a method comprising: determining a target area of interest; obtaining scout image data responsive to the target area; and processing the target area so as to create a sub-target area of interest. The method also includes computing a desired image acquisition time; operating said imaging system to create image data responsive to each sub-target area; combining the image data for each of the sub-target areas to create a set of image data; processing the image data to determine a phase of the image data; and synchronizing the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Tin-Su Pan, Kishore Chandra Acharya, David Caumartin, Dershan Luo, Prathyusha K. Salla
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Patent number: 6721386Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of cardiac CT imaging. The present invention utilizes ECG signals as well as mechanical motion signals of a cardiac region of a subject to correlate CT data acquired of the subject with the phases of the subject's cardiac region. The present invention contemplates measuring mechanical gatings of the heart by measuring changes in pressure, sound, or blood flow acceleration within the cardiac region. The mechanical gatings are then used with ECG data to correlate acquired imaging data with phases of the cardiac region for subsequent image reconstruction.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co., LLCInventors: Cherik Bulkes, Gopal B. Avinash, Tin-su Pan
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Patent number: 6639965Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging a heart with a scanning computed tomography (CT) imaging system. A cardiac cycle of a patient is measured. The patient's heart is then scanned with the scanning CT imaging system at an angular rate asynchronous to the measured cardiac cycle to obtain image data. An image of the patient's heart is then assembled from chronologically discontinuous segments of the image data. The image is representative of a selected portion of the cardiac cycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1999Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiang Hsieh, Tin-Su Pan, Yun Shen, Steve John Woloschek, Mark E. Woodford, Kishore C. Acharya
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Patent number: 6628743Abstract: A method for acquiring and analyzing cardiac data of a patient includes acquiring a first volume of cardiac data from a medical scanner, processing the first volume of cardiac data for image reconstruction and visualization, acquiring a subsequent plurality of volumes of cardiac data from the medical scanner, processing the subsequent plurality of volumes of cardiac data for image reconstruction and visualization, and reconstructing and visualizing the first and subsequent plurality of image sets from the acquired first and the subsequent plurality of volumes of cardiac data, respectively. The method for acquiring and analyzing cardiac data of a patient includes processing the cardiac images for detection and diagnosis of heart diseases.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Danielle Drummond, Kristin Leigh Carreau, Tin-Su Pan, Shankara B. Reddy
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Patent number: 6628742Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for reconstructing cardiac images using a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system. The method includes steps of: selecting a helical scanning pitch for scanning a patient; scanning the patient, including the patient's heart, with a computed tomographic imaging system having a plurality of detector rows and a rotating gantry to acquire projection data from the plurality of detector rows; selecting a phase of the cardiac cycle for imaging; combining portions of the acquired projection data from a plurality of detector rows, the combined portions corresponding to the selected cardiac phase; and reconstructing images, including images of the patient's heart, from the combined, interpolated projection data.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Tin-Su Pan, Danielle Drummond
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Publication number: 20030174804Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of cardiac CT imaging. The present invention utilizes ECG signals as well as mechanical motion signals of a cardiac region of a subject to correlate CT data acquired of the subject with the phases of the subject's cardiac region. The present invention contemplates measuring mechanical gatings of the heart by measuring changes in pressure, sound, or blood flow acceleration within the cardiac region. The mechanical gatings are then used with ECG data to correlate acquired imaging data with phases of the cardiac region for subsequent image reconstruction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: Cherik Bulkes, Gopal B. Avinash, Tin-Su Pan
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Publication number: 20030163039Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging using a variable speed patient positioning table are provided. The patient positioning table is configured to operate at a plurality of table speeds during acquisition of data from a selected region, such as the thorax region baying predefined cardiac and non-cardiac regions. In a non-cardiac region, the table is controlled to move at one speed and when the cardiac region is detected, the table is controlled to move at another speed, preferably faster than in the cardiac region to speed data acquisition and eliminate motion artifacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Tin-Su Pan, Steve Woloschek, H. David He
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Patent number: 6597803Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a method for scanning an object with a multi-slice CT imaging system having multiple detector rows each having an isocenter. The method includes steps of helically scanning an object with the multi-slice CT imaging system to obtain data segments including peripheral data segments, combining data from a first peripheral data segment with an opposite, second peripheral segment to form a data set for reconstruction of an image slice; and reconstructing the combined data into image slices.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Tin-Su Pan, Mark Woodford, Jiang Hsieh, Yun Shen, Kishore Acharya
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Publication number: 20030069493Abstract: The invention includes a technique for efficient multi-slice fast spin echo image acquisition with black blood contrast in cardiac imaging. The technique includes applying a non-selective inversion pulse, followed by a re-inversion pulse that is slice-selective over a region encompassing a plurality of slice selections. Execution of a series of RF excitation pulses with fast spin echo readout is timed such that signal from blood is near a null point before acquiring data for each spatial slice. For greater contrast consistency, the flip angles for the excitation pulses occurring before the null point can be reduced, and those occurring after the null point can be increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Tin-Su Pan, Steve Woloschek, H. David He
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Patent number: 6504894Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for multisector computed tomographic (CT) imaging of a cyclically moving object, including steps of: helically scanning a cyclically moving object with a CT imaging system having multiple detector rows and a rotating gantry, at a gantry rotation speed selected either to lead or to lag a cycle of the cyclically moving object; retrospectively gating the projection data of the object with a gating signal related to the motion of the cyclically moving object so that a geometric phase difference is created between a cycle of the rotating gantry and the motion of the cyclically moving object; and reconstructing an image of the cyclically moving object using gated sector data from image data representing a plurality of consecutive cycles of the cyclically moving object.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLCInventors: Tin-Su Pan, Yun Shen
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Publication number: 20020136350Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a method for multisector computed tomographic (CT) imaging of a cyclically moving object, including steps of: helically scanning a cyclically moving object with a CT imaging system having multiple detector rows and a rotating gantry, at a gantry rotation speed selected either to lead or to lag a cycle of the cyclically moving object; retrospectively gating the projection data of the object with a gating signal related to the motion of the cyclically moving object so that a geometric phase difference is created between a cycle of the rotating gantry and the motion of the cyclically moving object; and reconstructing an image of the cyclically moving object using gated sector data from image data representing a plurality of consecutive cycles of the cyclically moving object.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Tin-Su Pan, Yun Shen
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Publication number: 20020118790Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for reconstructing cardiac images using a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system. The method includes steps of: selecting a helical scanning pitch for scanning a patient; scanning the patient, including the patient's heart, with a computed tomographic imaging system having a plurality of detector rows and a rotating gantry to acquire projection data from the plurality of detector rows; selecting a phase of the cardiac cycle for imaging; combining portions of the acquired projection data from a plurality of detector rows, the combined portions corresponding to the selected cardiac phase; and reconstructing images, including images of the patient's heart, from the combined, interpolated projection data.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: August 29, 2002Inventors: Tin-Su Pan, Danielle Drummond
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Patent number: 6325539Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibration simplification in a computed tomography (CT) system are described. In one embodiment, the CT system utilizes calibration values from a first scan type, or mode of operation, to determine calibration values for at least a second scan type. As a result, the time required to perform calibration of the CT system is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Neil B. Bromberg, Tin-Su Pan
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Patent number: 6301325Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a multi-row CT fan beam system for collecting data in a high speed mode and for using data corresponding to half-scans in order to generate images within one or more image planes wherein, for each beam angle corresponding to an image plane data is generated by interpolating and/or extrapolating between simultaneously collected data wherein simultaneously collected data includes data corresponding to a single source location with respect to the image plane.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLCInventors: Guy M. Besson, Tin-Su Pan
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Patent number: 6272201Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a method for imaging an object utilizing a multi-slice CT imaging system having an x-ray source, a detector array, and a data acquisition system coupled to the detector array, the data acquisition system having a number of data acquisition input channels less than a total number of detector cells in the detector array. The method includes steps of: positioning the object between the x-ray source and the detector array; projecting an x-ray beam towards the object; and selectively reconfiguring a coupling of selected detector cells to the data acquisition input channels to increase a number of image slices received by the data acquisition system.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Tin-Su Pan