Patents by Inventor Xiangzhi Zhou

Xiangzhi Zhou 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: 11399730
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for analyzing images from a magnetic resonance (MR) system. The device includes at least one hardware processor coupled with a storage system accessible to the at least one hardware processor. The device further includes a display in communication with the at least one hardware processor. The device receives a plurality of non-contrast MR images in a region of interest (ROI). The device obtains blood flow signals from the plurality of non-contrast MR images. The device identifies an abnormal segment by analyzing the blood flow signals. The device displays the non-contrast MR images by a highlighted segment in at least one of the non-contrast MR images to indicate the abnormal segment on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Tsutomu Hoshino, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 11294012
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence, the first pulse sequence including a first spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a first amount, the second pulse sequence including a second spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a second amount being different from the first amount or the second pulse sequence not including a spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse. The processing circuitry performs a subtraction operation between a first data obtained from the first pulse sequence and a second data obtained from the second pulse sequence, thereby generating an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou, Aiming Lu
  • Patent number: 10901060
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry performs first data acquisition in a full k-space and performs a plurality of second data acquisition in partial k-spaces, each of the partial k-spaces being smaller than the entirety of the full k-space. The processing circuitry generates an image, based on data acquired from the first data acquisition and a plurality of pieces of data acquired from the plurality of second data acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Satoshi Sugiura, Tsutomu Hoshino, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20200191895
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence, the first pulse sequence including a first spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a first amount, the second pulse sequence including a second spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a second amount being different from the first amount or the second pulse sequence not including a spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse. The processing circuitry performs a subtraction operation between a first data obtained from the first pulse sequence and a second data obtained from the second pulse sequence, thereby generating an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Xiangzhi ZHOU, Aiming LU
  • Patent number: 10620286
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence, the first pulse sequence including a first spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a first amount, the second pulse sequence including a second spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse of a second amount being different from the first amount or the second pulse sequence not including a spoiler pulse serving as a dephasing gradient pulse. The processing circuitry performs a subtraction operation between a first data obtained from the first pulse sequence and a second data obtained from the second pulse sequence, thereby generating an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou, Aiming Lu
  • Patent number: 10534054
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry applies an MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse over a plurality of slices under a gradient magnetic field and configured to apply, for each of the plurality of slices to which the MT pulse is applied, an RF pulse having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of certain protons in each of the plurality of slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10488484
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method executed in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: applying an inversion pulse; executing a subsequent imaging sequence including an RF (Radio Frequency) pulse and a gradient magnetic field concurrently applied with the RF pulse in a slice direction and performing, for a slice position selected by the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field and during a time period including a null point, data acquisition in a plurality of orientations including a center of a two-dimensional k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Aiming Lu, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10368777
    Abstract: Black blood time to inversion (BBTI) tag-on and tag-off images acquired by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are analyzed to produce difference magnitude 3D images as a function of time (BBTI values) representing blood perfusion in a region of interest (ROI). Perfusion data of the ROI having values which are different for normal and abnormal myocardial tissues are displayed for plural slices of a 3D image and for plural BBTI values in a single display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiangzhi Zhou, Mitsue Miyazaki, Tsutomu Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10215828
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sequence controller. The sequence controller is configured to apply MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulses having a frequency different from a resonance frequency of free water protons and then acquires magnetic resonance signals of an object to be imaged. The sequence controller acquires the magnetic resonance signals for each of multiple frequencies while changing the frequency of MT pulses within a frequency band based on a T2 relaxation time of restricted protons contained in the object to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Cheng Ouyang, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10203388
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes control circuitry and processing circuitry. The control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence performing MR (Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy and configured to execute a second pulse sequence applying an MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse. The processing circuitry causes a display to present first data acquired based on the first pulse sequence and second data acquired based on the second pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 9983286
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured reduce specific absorption rate (SAR) in Fast Advanced Spin Echo (FASE) or Single-shot Fast Spin Echo (SS-FSE) imaging used, for example, in non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) techniques like fresh blood imaging (FBI). Within RF pulse sequences used to acquire echo data, the refocusing flip angles may be varied in the phase encode direction, and/slice encode direction, such that the refocusing pulse (or pulses) that map echo signals to the k-space center region larger refocusing flip angles than refocusing pulses used to generate echo signals that map to other areas of k-space. In some instances, the TR interval also may be varied for RF pulse sequences such that central K-space have a longer TR than the slices further towards the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou, Yoshimori Kassai
  • Patent number: 9818515
    Abstract: A type of sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet with high corrosion resistance is produced by dual alloy method. The method comprises the following steps: preparing the powders of master phase alloy and intergranular phase alloy respectively, mixing the powders, compacting the powders in magnetic field, sintering the compacted body at 1050˜1125° C., and annealing at 920-1020° C. and 500-650° C. successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY, ZHEJIANG INNUOVO MAGNETICS INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Mi Yan, Xiangzhi Zhou, Xiongfei Fan, Tianyu Ma, Wei Luo
  • Publication number: 20170273577
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for analyzing images from a magnetic resonance (MR) system. The device includes at least one hardware processor coupled with a storage system accessible to the at least one hardware processor. The device further includes a display in communication with the at least one hardware processor. The device receives a plurality of non-contrast MR images in a region of interest (ROI). The device obtains blood flow signals from the plurality of non-contrast MR images. The device identifies an abnormal segment by analyzing the blood flow signals. The device displays the non-contrast MR images by a highlighted segment in at least one of the non-contrast MR images to indicate the abnormal segment on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Tsutomu Hoshino, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170254869
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry performs first data acquisition in a full k-space and performs a plurality of second data acquisition in partial k-spaces, each of the partial k-spaces being smaller than the entirety of the full k-space. The processing circuitry generates an image, based on data acquired from the first data acquisition and a plurality of pieces of data acquired from the plurality of second data acquisition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Satoshi SUGIURA, Tsutomu HOSHINO, Xiangzhi ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20170219672
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method executed in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: applying an inversion pulse; executing a subsequent imaging sequence including an RF (Radio Frequency) pulse and a gradient magnetic field concurrently applied with the RF pulse in a slice direction and performing, for a slice position selected by the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field and during a time period including a null point, data acquisition in a plurality of orientations including a center of a two-dimensional k-space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Aiming LU, Xiangzhi ZHOU
  • Patent number: 9720064
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to obtain bright signal while having acceptable specific absorption rate (SAR) and acceptable scan time in Fast Advanced Spin Echo (FASE) or Single-shot Fast Spin Echo (SS-FSE) imaging used, for example, in non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (NC-MRA) techniques like fresh blood imaging (FBI). Within RF pulse sequences used to acquire echo data, the TR intervals are varied in the slice encode direction. In some instances, the refocusing pulse flip angles too may be varied for RF pulse sequences such that central k-space have larger refocusing pulse flip angles than slices further towards the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiangzhi Zhou, Mitsue Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9720061
    Abstract: Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects are enhanced by forming, for each of a plurality of magnetization transfer (MT) offset frequencies within a specified first range, a respective image representing CEST effects. A subset of the formed CEST images is displayed and a preferred or optimum one is selected from a display screen. The thus identified target frequency is then used to generate a composite enhanced CEST image based upon a combination of formed CEST images having MT frequencies within a specified second, smaller range, around the identified target frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cheng Ouyang, Xiangzhi Zhou, Mitsue Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9700230
    Abstract: MRI k-space data is acquired for a patient ROI during data acquisition sequences including a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal readout period using a late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) data acquisition sequence including at least one fat-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse imposed (a) after a water-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of normal tissue protons near a center of the readout period and (b) before the readout period center, which fat-specific inversion pulse is also timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of fat tissue protons near the readout period center. The acquired MR image data is reconstructed into a contrast enhanced LGE image of tissues within the ROI but having substantially suppressed normal and fat components therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiangzhi Zhou, Mitsue Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20170192073
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes control circuitry and processing circuitry. The control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence performing MR (Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy and configured to execute a second pulse sequence applying an MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse. The processing circuitry causes a display to present first data acquired based on the first pulse sequence and second data acquired based on the second pulse sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170192070
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry applies an MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse over a plurality of slices under a gradient magnetic field and configured to apply, for each of the plurality of slices to which the MT pulse is applied, an RF pulse having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of certain protons in each of the plurality of slices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Xiangzhi Zhou