Patents by Inventor Volker Heer
Volker Heer 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: 8670062Abstract: For noise correction in connection with a flat-panel x-ray detector, noise signals of a dark reference area are checked for deviations exceeding a specified threshold which, if any are present, will be taken into consideration separately for calculating the correction factor derived from the noise signal. Image artifacts due, for example, to high-contrast objects such as, for instance, cardiac pacemakers or metallic implants, in the x-ray image will be avoided through this measure.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20120128118Abstract: An x-ray system to generate x-ray image data of a predefined volume segment of an examination subject has either an arc-shaped mount or an annular gantry, an x-ray emitter arrangement with multiple x-ray microemitters, an x-ray detector arrangement with multiple x-ray pixels arranged directly adjacent to one another, and a controller to activate the x-ray emitter arrangement and the x-ray detector arrangement. The x-ray emitter arrangement and the x-ray detector are situated opposite one another on the arc-shaped mount or the gantry. The x-ray system is designed for introduction of the examination subject between the x-ray emitter arrangement and the x-ray detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Inventors: Rainer Graumann, Volker Heer
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Publication number: 20110198508Abstract: For noise correction in connection with a flat-panel x-ray detector, noise signals of a dark reference area are checked for deviations exceeding a specified threshold which, if any are present, will be taken into consideration separately for calculating the correction factor derived from the noise signal. Image artifacts due, for example, to high-contrast objects such as, for instance, cardiac pacemakers or metallic implants, in the x-ray image will be avoided through this measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hömig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 7965333Abstract: For noise correction in connection with a flat-panel x-ray detector (2), noise signals of a dark area (6) are checked for deviations exceeding a specified threshold (g) which, if any are present, will be taken into consideration separately for calculating the correction factor derived from the noise signal. Image artifacts due, for example, to high-contrast objects such as, for instance, cardiac pacemakers or metallic implants, in the x-ray image will be avoided through this measure.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 7826651Abstract: A method for checking an x-ray diagnostic apparatus is provided. Fluoroscopic series of x-ray images of a technical phantom are digitally acquired and stored. Difference between a dynamic image and a background image is calculated. A measuring field is predicted. Priori information about the shape of a clinically relevant object is determined. Hough transformation on a gray value image corresponding to the difference is applied. Contrast of the object from the Hough-transformed gray value image is determined. A square of the determined contrast is calculated. A noise variance is calculated by determining a sum of a noise variance of a homogenous image region and a variance of the background image. A contrast-to-noise ratio of the determined contrast and the calculated noise variance is determined. A square of the contrast-to-noise ratio is dynamically averaged. A Clinical Relevant Fluoroscopy Performance index for the x-ray diagnostic apparatus is determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Stefan Böhm, Peter Durlak, Volker Heer, Martin Kolarjk
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Publication number: 20090169088Abstract: A method for checking an x-ray diagnostic apparatus is provided. Fluoroscopic series of x-ray images of a technical phantom are digitally acquired and stored. Difference between a dynamic image and a background image is calculated. A measuring field is predicted. Priori information about the shape of a clinically relevant object is determined. Hough transformation on a gray value image corresponding to the difference is applied. Contrast of the object from the Hough-transformed gray value image is determined. A square of the determined contrast is calculated. A noise variance is calculated by determining a sum of a noise variance of a homogenous image region and a variance of the background image. A contrast-to-noise ratio of the determined contrast and the calculated noise variance is determined. A square of the contrast-to-noise ratio is dynamically averaged. A Clinical Relevant Fluoroscopy Performance index for the x-ray diagnostic apparatus is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2009Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Stefan Bohm, Peter Durlak, Volker Heer, Martin Kolarjk
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Patent number: 7539336Abstract: The invention relates to an angiographic x-ray diagnostic apparatus with an x-ray radiator having an x-ray tube, with a patient positioning table having a radiation-transparent positioning plate and mattress, with an x-ray detector, with an imaging system, an image processing unit and a measuring device to which the output signals of the x-ray detector are fed and which has a first device for determining a value determining the reproduction quality of clinically relevant objects, a second device for determining local variances of the noise in a homogenous image region of different x-ray images and a device for taking the ratio of the output values of the two devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Stefan Böhm, Peter Durlak, Volker Heer, Martin Kolarjk
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Patent number: 7212612Abstract: X-ray device with a detector and an adjustable diaphragm for fading-in an examination area, whereby the detector (6) can be controlled and read-out asymmetrically and the diaphragm (8) can be moved asymmetrically.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 7178980Abstract: An x-ray system HAS adjustable operating parameters with a dependency existing between different auxiliary types of equipment selectable for an examination and a suitable setting of the parameter. A control system of the x-ray system has a data input device to detect the used auxiliary equipment, a data storage device with data concerning the relation between each type of auxiliary equipment and an optimal setting of the parameters therefor, and an adjustment device for automatically adjusting the parameter dependent on the selection of the auxiliary equipment.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 7170974Abstract: An X-ray device (1) is provided including an X-ray source (8) and a first X-ray detector (9,100) for producing a first X-ray image data set of an examination object (P). A second X-ray detector (20) is provided for producing a second X-ray image data set of examination object (P) where the second X-ray detector (20) has a smaller detector surface (23) than the first X-ray detector (9,100). The second X-ray detector (20) may produce an X-ray image associated with the second X-ray image data set that has a higher local resolution than the X-ray image (12) associated with the first X-ray image data set. The second X-ray detector (20) may be movably connected with the first X-ray detector (9,100) so the second X-ray detector (20) maybe articulated upstream of the first X-ray detector (9,100).Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Inventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hömig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20070016108Abstract: The invention relates to a method for 3D visualization of vascular inserts in the human body using C-arm radiography comprising: firstly recording a contrast-agent-free vessel system having a vascular insert of two series x-ray recordings with different angulations, secondly contrast-agent-based recording the same vessel system of two series x-ray recordings, processing the first two series recordings for improving image quality of the image data sets containing the insert representation, matching the vessel anatomy from the second two series recordings to the insert representation contained in the processed first two series recordings by 2D matching, computing a 3D data set of a region around the insert enclosing the insert as completely as possible based on the processed first two series recordings, computing a 3D data set of the vessel system based on the second two series recordings, and superimposing the two computed 3D data sets based on the 2D matching.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventors: Estelle Camus, Volker Heer, Markus Lendl
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Patent number: 7136456Abstract: Depth diaphragm for an x-ray device, which diaphragm has a plurality of adjustable diaphragm blades (1) for displaying an area being examined, which blades (1) can be moved in such a way that said area being examined can be displayed asymmetrically.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 7110494Abstract: An x-ray diagnostic apparatus has an x-ray radiator, a control device connected thereto, a radiation detector and a patient positioning table. A patient weighing device that is connected with the control device to influence parameters for setting the x-ray radiation is associated with the patient positioning table.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20060198553Abstract: To protect a digital flat detector, especially a mobile detector, against being damaged by the effect of impact, an automatically triggering device is provided. The automatically triggering device, including an airbag for example, is provided for protection against the effect of external mechanical impact.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Inventors: Volker Heer, Mathias Hoernig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20060153338Abstract: An x-ray system HAS adjustable operating parameters with a dependency existing between different auxiliary types of equipment selectable for an examination and a suitable setting of the parameter. A control system of the x-ray system has a data input device to detect the used auxiliary equipment, a data storage device with data concerning the relation between each type of auxiliary equipment and an optimal setting of the parameters therefor, and an adjustment device for automatically adjusting the parameter dependent on the selection of the auxiliary equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2004Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hornig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20060126911Abstract: The invention relates to an angiographic x-ray diagnostic apparatus with an x-ray radiator having an x-ray tube, with a patient positioning table having a radiation-transparent positioning plate and mattress, with an x-ray detector, with an imaging system, an image processing unit and a measuring device to which the output signals of the x-ray detector are fed and which has a first device for determining a value determining the reproduction quality of clinically relevant objects, a second device for determining local variances of the noise in a homogenous image region of different x-ray images and a device for taking the ratio of the output values of the two devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2005Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventors: Stefan Bohm, Peter Durlak, Volker Heer, Martin Kolarjk
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Patent number: 7012258Abstract: An X-ray detector includes an X-ray converter for conversion of X-ray radiation to light, and a photodiode sensor with an arrangement of two or more photodiode elements for detection of the light produced by the X-ray radiation in the X-ray converter. A nonlinearly absorbent filter is located between the X-ray converter and the photodiode sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hoernig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Patent number: 6980626Abstract: Method for an x-ray arrangement for compensation of scattered radiation and x-ray apparatus The invention concerns a method for an x-ray arrangement comprising two x-ray systems (1, 2) for compensation of scattered radiation. In addition, the invention concerns an x-ray apparatus with two x-ray systems (1, 2) which respectively comprise an x-ray source (4, 5) and an x-ray detector (5, 7). An x-ray scattered radiation image based on the x-ray radiation (11) scattered on a subject (P) is acquired for at least one of the two x-ray systems (1, 2), given a definite positioning of the x-ray systems (1, 2) relative to one another. The acquired x-ray scattered radiation image is saved and used for subtraction from an x-ray image acquired with the x-ray system (1, 2) in order to compensate for the influence of the scattered radiation originating from the other x-ray system (1, 2) and to achieve an improved image quality.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hörnig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20050219387Abstract: For noise correction in connection with a flat-panel x-ray detector (2), noise signals of a dark area (6) are checked for deviations exceeding a specified threshold (g) which, if any are present, will be taken into consideration separately for calculating the correction factor derived from the noise signal. Image artifacts due, for example, to high-contrast objects such as, for instance, cardiac pacemakers or metallic implants, in the x-ray image will be avoided through this measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Inventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Hornig, Bernhard Sandkamp
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Publication number: 20050169426Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device (1) with an X-ray source (8) and a first X-ray detector (9, 100) for producing a first X-ray image data set of an examination object (P). The X-ray device (1) additionally comprises a second X-ray detector (20) for producing a second X-ray image data set of an examination object (P), whereby the second X-ray detector (20) has a smaller detector surface (23) than the first X-ray detector (9, 100) and is designed such that the X-ray image associated with the second X-ray image data set has a higher local resolution than the X-ray image (12) associated with the first X-ray image data set. The invention also relates to a method for producing an X-ray image data set.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Inventors: Burkhard Groh, Volker Heer, Mathias Homig, Bemhard Sandkamp