Patents by Inventor Wilhelm Hanke

Wilhelm Hanke 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: 8619946
    Abstract: An x-ray source has multiple electron sources spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction that is defined as being parallel to the rotation axis of a rotating anode which is common to all of the electron sources. Each electron source emits electrons that strike the anode at respective strike points that are spatially separated from each other along the longitudinal direction, to produce respective emission centers, from which x-rays are emitted, each emission center being associated with respective ones of the x-ray sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 8326009
    Abstract: In a continuous mammography procedure, the breast of a subject is fixed in place in a retention device, and a first x-ray image is generated by irradiating the breast in the retention device. While the breast is still held in the retention device, the first x-ray image is evaluated to define a condition for generating a second x-ray image. The second x-ray image is then generated according to the defined condition, with the breast still in the same position in the retention device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7965812
    Abstract: A mammography system has an x-ray source, a detector and a compression plate arranged in the beam path between the source and the detector. The x-ray source, the detector and the compression plate are mounted on a vertical column such that they respectively pivot around separate pivot axes. The three pivot axes are spaced apart from one another and oriented substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a surface normal of the detector. The x-ray source and the compression plate are held on the vertical column such that they can be displaced in a plane oriented approximately vertical to their pivot axes. The mammography system is operable to obtain two sets of tomosynthesis data respectively with different tube-to-detector distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20110122992
    Abstract: An x-ray source has multiple electron sources spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction that is defined as being parallel to the rotation axis of a rotating anode which is common to all of the electron sources. Each electron source emits electrons that strike the anode at respective strike points that are spatially separated from each other along the longitudinal direction, to produce respective emission centers, from which x-rays are emitted, each emission center being associated with respective ones of the x-ray sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20100321404
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for displaying an x-ray image acquired in a mammographic examination wherein the breast was compressed to a compression thickness, a breast area of the breast in an image area of the x-ray image is determined, and the glandular density of the breast area is determined from brightness levels of the x-ray image in the image area and from the compression thickness. A value that characterizes the glandular density is displayed together with the x-ray image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20100061614
    Abstract: In a continuous mammography procedure, the breast of a subject is fixed in place in a retention device, and a first x-ray image is generated by irradiating the breast in the retention device. While the breast is still held in the retention device, the first x-ray image is evaluated to define a condition for generating a second x-ray image. The second x-ray image is then generated according to the defined condition, with the breast still in the same position in the retention device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20090323893
    Abstract: A mammography system has an x-ray source, a detector and a compression plate arranged in the beam path between the source and the detector. The x-ray source, the detector and the compression plate are mounted on a vertical column such that they respectively pivot around separate pivot axes. The three pivot axes are spaced apart from one another and oriented substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to a surface normal of the detector. The x-ray source and the compression plate are held on the vertical column such that they can be displaced in a plane oriented approximately vertical to their pivot axes. The mammography system is operable to obtain two sets of tomosynthesis data respectively with different tube-to-detector distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 7327826
    Abstract: In order to achieve a particularly good image sharpness, in a method and apparatus for radiological imaging of an examination subject, a digital x-ray detector is arranged behind the subject and a scattered-ray grid is positionable between the subject and the x-ray detector. The scattered-ray grid is designed for reduction of the scattered ray proportion of x-rays penetrating the subject. If the thickness of the subject is below a defined thickness, the scattered-ray grid is removed from the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Publication number: 20060120510
    Abstract: In order to achieve a particularly good image sharpness, in a method and apparatus for radiological imaging of an examination subject, a digital x-ray detector is arranged behind the subject and a scattered-ray grid is positionable between the subject and the x-ray detector. The scattered-ray grid is designed for reduction of the scattered ray proportion of x-rays penetrating the subject. If the thickness of the subject is below a defined thickness, the scattered-ray grid is removed from the beam path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Thomas Mertelmeier
  • Patent number: 5678549
    Abstract: A stereotactic auxiliary attachment for a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for use in conducting mammographic examinations wherein a needle localization of a breast mass or needle marking of a breast mass are implemented with high precisions includes two parallel compressions plates mounted so as to be displaceable relative to one each other, and between which an examination subject such as breast, can be compressed. At least one of the plates has a reception coil of the magnetic resonance tomography apparatus allocated thereto, and at least one of the plates has holes therein for the introduction of a biopsy or marking needle. One of both of the plates can be provided with markings which are identifiable in the magnetic resonance image (tomogram).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sylvia Heywang-Koebrunner, Wilhelm Hanke
  • Patent number: 5396174
    Abstract: The conductor structures of an antenna in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus are covered with lamellae that extend in longitudinal direction of the examination space and have large-area connections at the end sides of the antenna to a shielding that surrounds the examination space. In an alternative embodiment, the lamellae extend the azimuthal direction and are connected to a shielding (3) surrounding the examination space at the respective longitudinal edges of the conductor structure of the antenna via broad-web, planar conductors with a free cross section remaining between the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Hanke, Michael Morita, Ludger Freisen, deceased
  • Patent number: 5065760
    Abstract: A cable guide for use in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus is provided for cable for making electrical connections between devices secured to a patient bed and devices disposed outside of the examination space. The cable guide is a grounded, electrical cable channel disposed beneath the patient bed and above the lower sub-antenna of a whole-body antenna and above at least one wall of the examination space. The cable channel has a V-shape, and is rounded at an edge facing the examination space, this edge projecting beyond the height of the lower sub-antenna. The cable guide substantially protects the cable against coupling with other components. The examination space remains free of built-in units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Krause, Wilhelm Hanke, Juergen Ruhl