Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Renz

Wolfgang Renz 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: 20100056902
    Abstract: A patient positioning couch includes an illumination apparatus having at least one light source that is arranged in the patient positioning couch. The patient positioning couch is capable of being placed in an examination area of a medical device. Through the arrangement of the at least one light source of the illumination apparatus of the patient positioning couch, it is always ensured that the illumination does not lose its location relative to a patient or another object positioned on the patient positioning couch, even if the position of the patient positioning couch changes, e.g. if the patient positioning couch is moved into or out of the examination area. At the same time an especially space-saving illumination of the examination area can thus be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Granzer, Bernd Maciejewski, Jürgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Lothar Schön, Günther Zebelein
  • Patent number: 7663368
    Abstract: An arrangement for radiation of a radio-frequency field into an examination subject has a local coil unit with a housing. An insulating dielectric material is embodied at least at one part of the housing in order to passively compensate an inhomogeneity of the B1 field that occurs in the examination subject. An adjustment arrangement allows for fixed but detachable provision of the insulating dielectric material at the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Razvan Lazar, Wolfgang Renz, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20100036237
    Abstract: A detector unit for arrangement in a field generating unit of a magnetic resonance device has an RF transmission/reception system for transmitting RF pulses into, or receiving magnetic resonance signals from, an examination volume of the field generation unit. The RF transmission/reception system surrounds a patient tunnel at a radial distance from a tunnel axis thereof, and is divided into two sub-systems located at a distance from each other along the direction of the tunnel axis, so as to form a substantially annular cavity or interstice therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Eva Eberlein, Ludwig Eberler, Andreas Krug, Razvan Lazar, Jürgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Axel Vom Endt
  • Publication number: 20100012258
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for the production of composite work pieces of layers laminated to each other, with at least one layer representing a glass plate. First, at least one composite work piece is laminated in a lamination press under the effects of pressure and heat in order to at least activate the adhesive material used for lamination. Then the composite work piece is removed from the lamination press and transported into a curing station and/or cooling station for curing and/or cooling. A testing device for detecting broken glass in the composite work piece is arranged between the lamination press and the curing station or between the lamination press and the cooling station, which detects potentially present broken glass by testing the inherent stability of the composite work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BURKLE GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Damm, Gerhard Dolker, Michael Pojtinger, Wolfgang Renz, Matthias Zufle
  • Patent number: 7642780
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance system has a basic magnet that generates a static basic magnetic field in an examination volume, and a whole-body antenna that emits a homogeneous radio-frequency field in the examination volume, the homogeneous radio-frequency field exhibiting an excitation frequency so that nuclei in an examination subject in the examination volume are excited to emit magnetic resonance signals, and a radio-frequency shield. The radio-frequency shield is arranged between the whole-body antenna and the basic magnet. The whole-body antenna is arranged between the radio-frequency shield and the examination volume. The radio-frequency shield is fashioned to exhibit a high shielding effect in a shielding frequency range that encompasses the excitation frequency. The shielding effect drops to a significantly lower shielding effect on both sides at side bands adjoining the shielding frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg
    Inventors: Dirk Diehl, Wolfgang Renz, Lorenz-Peter Schmidt, Ulrich Von Knobloch
  • Publication number: 20090322329
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance apparatus having an RF radiating coil and gradient coils, and in a method for operating such a magnetic resonance apparatus, a pulse sequence, composed of multiple time steps, is specified for operating the gradient coils to time-dependently select regions of a selected slice of a selected volume of a subject. A non-linear equation system is then solved to obtain feed parameters for individual channels of the transmit coil for each time step, with specification of a desired target magnetization, and dependent on the pulse sequence specified for the gradient coils. The non-linear equation system is based on discrete values for time and space variable and, in addition to equations resulting from the Bloch equation, which are non-linear in their feed parameters, includes at least one additional equation that describes boundary conditions for the examination of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Dirk Diehl, Rene Gumbrecht, Juergen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Markus Vester, Sebastian Wolf
  • Publication number: 20090315784
    Abstract: An antenna structure for a magnetic resonance device constructed as a radiating or transmitting antenna of the magnetic resonance device, has a non-metallic antenna conductor containing a discharge gas. When energy is imparted to the discharge gas, the antenna conductor forms an electrically conducting gas discharge column and can be used as an electrically conducting antenna element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Ludwig Eberler, Wolfgang Renz
  • Publication number: 20090299170
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance scanner including a PET unit includes a magnet system and a gradient system having a patient bore. In at least one embodiment, the magnet system and the gradient system are each split by an azimuthal gap and the PET unit is disposed within the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Gebhardt, Wolfgang Renz, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20090294036
    Abstract: A press and a method for laminating essentially plate-shaped workpieces under the effect of pressure and heat. In the closed state, a lower press half and an upper press half form a vacuum chamber utilizing a peripheral, one-part, or multi-part seals. A flexible membrane divides the vacuum chamber into a product half that can be evacuated that holds at least one workpiece and a pressure half that can be pressurized. The membrane is constructed and arranged so that it presses the workpiece directly or indirectly against a bottom side of the vacuum chamber due to a pressure difference generated in the vacuum chamber due to the evacuation of the product half and/or due to the pressurization of the pressure half. The membrane is mounted on a membrane frame that can be handled separately and that is connected detachably to the upper press half and that can be mounted on the membrane frame or tensioned in the frame from outside of the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BURKLE GMBH
    Inventors: Dagmar Metzger, Norbert Damm, Gerhard Dolker, Wolfgang Renz
  • Patent number: 7626392
    Abstract: An antenna unit for a PET/MRI scanner is disclosed, including a supporting tube in which at least one antenna for MR signals is arranged. In at least one embodiment, the supporting tube has at least one permeable section and one impermeable section, the permeable section of which has a greater permeability to PET quanta than the impermeable section. The antenna unit further includes a screen for radio-frequency signals which is arranged outside of the supporting tube and surrounds the latter. In at least one embodiment, an intermediate layer is arranged between the supporting tube and the screen and, in the region of the permeable section of the supporting tube, is composed of, at least in part, a material which has a permeability to PET quanta comparable to the permeable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7622927
    Abstract: An arrangement configured for controlling an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance device has an antenna arrangement that surrounds an examination region and that has at least one antenna element configured for emitting an amplified transmit signal. At least one amplifier is provided, at the input of which a high-frequency transmit signal is connected, which is present on the output side of the amplifier as an amplified transmit signal. The amplifier is connected to a feed point of the antenna arrangement on the output side, in order to emit the amplified transmit signal. Coil windings of a primary gradient coil are also provided, which at least partially include the antenna arrangement and the examination region. Coil windings of a secondary gradient coil at least partially include the coil windings of the primary gradient coil, the antenna arrangement (and the examination region).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Case Western University
    Inventors: Mark A. Griswold, Jeremiah Heilmann, Wolfgang Renz, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 7622921
    Abstract: In a method and device for monitoring the physiologically effective radio-frequency exposure in at least one specific volume region of an examination subject in a magnetic resonance data acquisition scan in a magnetic resonance system, amplitude values are acquired that respectively represent, at specific acquisition points in time, a signal amplitude of the radio-frequency signals emitted or to be emitted via the radio-frequency signal channels. Also, phase values are acquired that represent the phases of the appertaining radio-frequency signals at these points in time. Local exposure values are then determined on the basis of the amplitude values and phase values, respectively representing a physiological exposure that the radio-frequency pulses cause at the examination subject at a specific location at a specific time. Based on this, exposure control values are determined that are compared with predetermined exposure limit values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg Ulrich Fontius, Juergen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Franz Schmitt, Karsten Wicklow
  • Publication number: 20090267606
    Abstract: A transmission antenna for magnetic resonance applications has a birdcage-like structure that includes antenna rods proceeding between first and second terminating elements respectively located at opposite ends of the antenna rods. A detuning circuit is located at the second terminating element. Either the second terminating element is formed as a completely continuous short circuit ring and the detuning circuit is arranged between the ends of the antenna rods and the second terminating element, or the second terminating element has a number of ferrule segments, between which the detuning circuit is arranged. The second terminating element has a larger cross-section than a the first terminating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Razvan Lazar, Wolfgang Renz
  • Publication number: 20090256571
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance device has an antenna arrangement that surrounds an examination region and that has at least one antenna element for emitting an amplified transmit signal. At least one amplifier is provided, at the input of which a high-frequency transmit signal is connected, which is present on the output side of the amplifier as an amplified transmit signal. The amplifier is connected to a feed point of the antenna arrangement on the output side, in order to emit the amplified transmit signal. Coil windings of a primary gradient coil are also provided, which at least partially include the antenna arrangement and the examination region. Coil windings of a secondary gradient coil at least partially include the coil windings of the primary gradient coil, the antenna arrangement (and the examination region).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Mark A. Griswold, Jeremiah Heilmann, Wolfgang Renz, Markus Vester
  • Publication number: 20090206836
    Abstract: A detection unit is disclosed for arrangement in the main magnet of an MR device, which has both an RF transceiver system and a PET detector. In at least one embodiment the RF transceiver system is divided into two parts and the two parts are arranged upstream and downstream of the PET detector in the longitudinal direction of the patient tunnel. The RF transceiver system and PET detector are applied to the same image volume. In at least one other embodiment, an MR device is equipped with the detection unit, and in at least one other embodiment, a method operates the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Ludwig Eberler, Razvan Lazar, Jurgen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Norbert Rietsch
  • Publication number: 20090201022
    Abstract: An apparatus to control an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance apparatus has an amplifier with an input connected to a radio-frequency transmission signal to be amplified. The antenna arrangement has at least one antenna element for emission of the amplified transmission signal. The antenna element has an infeed point with two terminals, wherein the amplified transmission signal is connected at the terminals. The amplifier is connected on the output side with two terminals of the infeed point. The antenna element has at the infeed point, a mounting surface to accommodate the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Ralph Oppelt, Wolfgang Renz, Wilfried Schnell
  • Publication number: 20090192382
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance system obtaining magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject, has an examination tunnel, a whole-body antenna with two connection terminals. The whole-body antenna cylindrically extends around the examination tunnel along a longitudinal axis. The system has a radio-frequency supply device in order to respectively supply the whole-body antenna with radio-frequency signals for emission of a radio-frequency field in the examination tunnel. The radio-frequency supply device has a radio-frequency generator for generation of a radio-frequency signal, a signal splitter that divides a radio-frequency signal coming from the radio-frequency generator into two partial signals that are phase-shifted by 90° relative to one another. Two radio-frequency feed lines are connected with the two connection terminals of the whole-body antenna. Via these radio-frequency feed lines, the two partial signals are fed into the whole-body antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Juergen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Thorsten Speckner
  • Publication number: 20090179645
    Abstract: A control device for a magnetic resonance system activates the coils of a transmission array and a gradient magnet system of the magnetic resonance system by causing an excitation pulse to be supplied to each coil. A magnetization that exhibits a first actual inhomogeneity thereby is generated in an excitation volume of the magnetic resonance system. The control device determines the excitation pulse for each coil using a start pulse and a maximum allowable inhomogeneity. The respective start pulse has a total time duration. When the control device activates the coils of the transmission array and of the gradient magnet system corresponding to the start pulse, a magnetization that exhibits a second actual inhomogeneity that is smaller than the maximum permissible inhomogeneity is generated in the excitation volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Dirk Diehl, Juergen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Markus Vester, Sebastian Wolf
  • Publication number: 20090146066
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for superposed magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography imaging. In at least one embodiment the device includes a gradient coil and a positron emission tomography unit (PET unit). The PET unit is arranged within the gradient coil and has a first shield against radiofrequency radiation which in part surrounds the PET unit, and a second shield against radiofrequency radiation is arranged on the gradient coil. The first shield is connected to the second shield to form a shield which is at least partly closed. This makes a closed shield for the PET unit possible, which nevertheless is still easily accessible for maintenance purposes due to the two-part design of the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Renz, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 7522952
    Abstract: A combined PET/MRI tomography unit has a PET unit with a unit part assigned to the examination space, and a first evaluation unit for evaluating the PET electric signals. The unit part has a gamma ray detector. The combined unit has an MRI unit and a second evaluation unit for evaluating MRI signals. The MRI unit has a high frequency antenna as well as a gradient coil system, the high frequency antenna device being arranged nearer to the examination space than the gradient coil system, as well as a high frequency shield arranged between the gradient coil system and the high frequency antenna device. The PET unit part is arranged between the high frequency shield and the high frequency antenna device. A shielding cover for the high frequency antenna device faces the high frequency antenna device. The shielding cover is opaque to high frequency radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Krieg, Rainer Kuth, Ralf Ladebeck, Ralph Oppelt, Wolfgang Renz, Sebastian Schmidt, Markus Vester