Patents by Inventor Volker Schnetter

Volker Schnetter 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).

  • Publication number: 20240377486
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for operating a magnetic resonance facility is provided. For thermal monitoring of an imaging component that is arranged close to a patient during an examination procedure, a monitoring value of a parameter that influences a temperature of the imaging component is ascertained in a monitoring monitor over a predefined period and is compared with a threshold value. At least one course of action is triggered when the threshold value is overshot. A plurality of monitoring monitors with different threshold values, respectively, is used for different periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Klaus Huber, Volker Schnetter, Bernd Erbe
  • Publication number: 20240201289
    Abstract: A method performed by an MRI system includes: receiving at least one object parameter value of an object to be examined in accordance with a predefined MRI protocol; determining a frequency distribution of deposition values of examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, from available MRI examination datasets; determining, by a control unit of the MRI system, a reference deposition value of the examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, from the frequency distribution of the deposition values of the examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, for a predefined reference proportion in accordance with a predefined reference determining procedure; and determining, as a function of the reference deposition value, at least one MRI protocol parameter of the predefined MRI protocol for examining the object to be examined, in accordance with a predefined MRI protocol optimization procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 11112469
    Abstract: A method for control of a radio-frequency amplifier of a magnetic resonance system is provided. The method includes determining a radio-frequency power to be output by the radio-frequency amplifier during an examination of a patient in the magnetic resonance system. Using a Lambert W function, a maximum temperature in tissue of the patient is determined as a function of the radio-frequency power. The radio-frequency amplifier is set as a function of the maximum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10830843
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for a magnetic resonance system to protect a patient from being damaged by irradiated radio frequency power. In the method, amount information about maximum energy is determined as a function of a damage model for a patient to be examined with the magnetic resonance system. The maximum energy indicates the maximum radio frequency energy that may be radiated into the patient during the examination of the patient. Furthermore, an amount of energy emitted by a radio frequency amplifier of the magnetic resonance system during the examination of the patient in the magnetic resonance system is determined, and the radio frequency amplifier is adjusted as a function of a comparison of the amount information with the amount of energy emitted by the radio frequency amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10802091
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring an absorption rate when using a primary coil of a magnetic resonance device and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil and to a monitoring unit, a magnetic resonance device and a computer program product. According to the method a maximum admissible absorption rate is provided, using which a maximum admissible B1 field strength of the secondary coil is determined. Furthermore, an actual B1 field strength of the secondary coil is determined. The absorption rate is monitored using the actual B1 field strength of the secondary coil and the maximum admissible B1 field strength of the secondary coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bielmeier, Gerhard Brinker, Jürgen Nistler, Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10788560
    Abstract: A method for verifying at least one default value for a magnetic resonance examination, a verifying unit, a magnetic resonance device and a computer program product are provided. According to the method, at least one default value for an electromagnetic property and a sequence segment are sent to a verifying unit. The verifying unit uses the sequence segment to determine at least one electromagnetic property. The at least one default value is verified by the verifying unit with respect to the at least one electromagnetic property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Prinz, Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10649046
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to simulating an electrical stimulation during an examination of an examination object, in which the examination object is examined in a MR system to create a MR image using an imaging sequence, where a time characteristic of at least one magnetic field gradient used during the imaging sequence is determined, a time derivative of the time characteristic of the at least one magnetic field gradient is determined, and change time points at which the value of the time derivative changes are determined. The simulation of the electrical stimulation for the imaging sequence is performed, wherein the simulation is restricted to the determined change time points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Schnetter, Daniel Nico Splitthoff
  • Publication number: 20200116806
    Abstract: A method for control of a radio-frequency amplifier of a magnetic resonance system is provided. The method includes determining a radio-frequency power to be output by the radio-frequency amplifier during an examination of a patient in the magnetic resonance system. Using a Lambert W function, a maximum temperature in tissue of the patient is determined as a function of the radio-frequency power. The radio-frequency amplifier is set as a function of the maximum temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10393829
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a mobile device relative to a B0 field magnet along a z-coordinate axis, and a device and a magnetic resonance tomography unit for performing the method are provided. The device includes a magnetic field strength sensor arranged in a fixed relative position. A characteristic magnetic field strength Bref of the B0 field magnet that emerges for a plurality of x-y coordinate pairs with a same reference z-coordinate zref is ascertained. The device is moved along the z-coordinate axis until the magnetic field strength sensor measures the characteristic magnetic field strength Bref.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Ludwig, Volker Schnetter, Johann Sukkau, Andrew Dewdney, Axel Heitland, Ralf Ladebeck, Ronny Pflichtbeil, Jörg Rothard, Volker Weißenberger
  • Patent number: 10310523
    Abstract: A method for operating a temperature control apparatus for a medical examination device, in particular a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein the medical examination device causes a heat input into the body of a patient to be examined during an examination procedure, and wherein the temperature control apparatus has at least one temperature modifier designed for controlling the temperature of the patient, at least one item of heat information that describes the heat balance of the patient is determined, in order to determine a control parameter for controlling at least one ambient parameter that describes the at least one temperature modifier by taking into account at least one ambient condition on the body of the patient, and at least one examination parameter that describes the examination procedure as the input variables of a heat balance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Publication number: 20190056465
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for a magnetic resonance system to protect a patient from being damaged by irradiated radio frequency power. In the method, amount information about maximum energy is determined as a function of a damage model for a patient to be examined with the magnetic resonance system. The maximum energy indicates the maximum radio frequency energy that may be radiated into the patient during the examination of the patient. Furthermore, an amount of energy emitted by a radio frequency amplifier of the magnetic resonance system during the examination of the patient in the magnetic resonance system is determined, and the radio frequency amplifier is adjusted as a function of a comparison of the amount information with the amount of energy emitted by the radio frequency amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Publication number: 20170343624
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring an absorption rate when using a primary coil of a magnetic resonance device and a secondary coil inductively coupled to the primary coil and to a monitoring unit, a magnetic resonance device and a computer program product. According to the method a maximum admissible absorption rate is provided, using which a maximum admissible B1 field strength of the secondary coil is determined. Furthermore, an actual B1 field strength of the secondary coil is determined. The absorption rate is monitored using the actual B1 field strength of the secondary coil and the maximum admissible B1 field strength of the secondary coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bielmeier, Gerhard Brinker, Jürgen Nistler, Volker Schnetter
  • Publication number: 20170248664
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to simulating an electrical stimulation during an examination of an examination object, in which the examination object is examined in a MR system to create a MR image using an imaging sequence, where a time characteristic of at least one magnetic field gradient used during the imaging sequence is determined, a time derivative of the time characteristic of the at least one magnetic field gradient is determined, and change time points at which the value of the time derivative changes are determined. The simulation of the electrical stimulation for the imaging sequence is performed, wherein the simulation is restricted to the determined change time points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Volker Schnetter, Daniel Nico Splitthoff
  • Publication number: 20170248665
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a mobile device relative to a B0 field magnet along a z-coordinate axis, and a device and a magnetic resonance tomography unit for performing the method are provided. The device includes a magnetic field strength sensor arranged in a fixed relative position. A characteristic magnetic field strength Bref of the B0 field magnet that emerges for a plurality of x-y coordinate pairs with a same reference z-coordinate zref is ascertained. The device is moved along the z-coordinate axis until the magnetic field strength sensor measures the characteristic magnetic field strength Bref.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Klaus Ludwig, Volker Schnetter, Johann Sukkau, Andrew Dewdney, Axel Heitland, Ralf Ladebeck, Ronny Pflichtbeil, Jörg Rothard, Volker Weißenberger
  • Publication number: 20170234958
    Abstract: A method for verifying at least one default value for a magnetic resonance examination, a verifying unit, a magnetic resonance device and a computer program product are provided. According to the method, at least one default value for an electromagnetic property and a sequence segment are sent to a verifying unit. The verifying unit uses the sequence segment to determine at least one electromagnetic property. The at least one default value is verified by the verifying unit with respect to the at least one electromagnetic property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Carsten Prinz, Volker Schnetter
  • Publication number: 20170227973
    Abstract: A method for operating a temperature control apparatus for a medical examination device, in particular a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein the medical examination device causes a heat input into the body of a patient to be examined during an examination procedure, and wherein the temperature control apparatus has at least one temperature modifier designed for controlling the temperature of the patient, at least one item of heat information that describes the heat balance of the patient is determined, in order to determine a control parameter for controlling at least one ambient parameter that describes the at least one temperature modifier by taking into account at least one ambient condition on the body of the patient, and at least one examination parameter that describes the examination procedure as the input variables of a heat balance model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 9547053
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an exposure experienced by a patient during an examination with a magnetic resonance device having a transmitter device is provided. The method includes determining a coil power loss from measured amplitudes and phases of a first measuring device, and determining an overall transmitted power from voltage measurement values of the second measuring device. The method also includes determining a specific absorption rate (SAR) value describing a power entering a patient from the coil power loss and the overall transmitted power and comparing the SAR value with at least one limit value. A transmission operation of the transmitter device is terminated if the at least one limit value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bielmeier, Matthias Gebhardt, Juergen Nistler, Dieter Ritter, Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 9100111
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a high-frequency transmit device of a magnetic resonance tomography system with a transmit antenna system having a plurality of transmit channels is provided. A reference transmit signal is output on different transmit channels of the transmit antenna system, respectively, at different time points, and a reference measurement signal induced by the reference transmit signal is measured on at least one of the other transmit channels using a measuring device assigned to the transmit channel. Based on the reference measurement signal, a phase deviation indicator value is determined. The phase deviation indicator value indicates a relative phase deviation between the measuring devices of the transmit channels in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Olaf Behrendt, Pascal Mühlich, Volker Schnetter, Christian Wünsch
  • Publication number: 20140113577
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a high-frequency transmit device of a magnetic resonance tomography system with a transmit antenna system having a plurality of transmit channels is provided. A reference transmit signal is output on different transmit channels of the transmit antenna system, respectively, at different time points, and a reference measurement signal induced by the reference transmit signal is measured on at least one of the other transmit channels using a measuring device assigned to the transmit channel. Based on the reference measurement signal, a phase deviation indicator value is determined. The phase deviation indicator value indicates a relative phase deviation between the measuring devices of the transmit channels in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Olaf Behrendt, Pascal Mühlich, Volker Schnetter, Christian Wünsch
  • Publication number: 20130147479
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an exposure experienced by a patient during an examination with a magnetic resonance device having a transmitter device is provided. The method includes determining a coil power loss from measured amplitudes and phases of a first measuring device, and determining an overall transmitted power from voltage measurement values of the second measuring device. The method also includes determining a specific absorption rate (SAR) value describing a power entering a patient from the coil power loss and the overall transmitted power and comparing the SAR value with at least one limit value. A transmission operation of the transmitter device is terminated if the at least one limit value is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bielmeier, Matthias Gebhardt, Juergen Nistler, Dieter Ritter, Volker Schnetter