Particle Precession Resonance Patents (Class 324/300)
  • Patent number: 10168409
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a phantom for periodical measurements of parameters allowing to ensure that performance of equipment for computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance tomography are compliant to established acceptability criteria, that is performance are constant in time. The main characteristic of such phantom is that the same phantom may be used for measurements of different physical parameters and for different machines, even of different type, such as machines for CT and/or MRT. The universal phantom described is made of a rectangular parallelepiped in PMMA made of different sections that may be filled with an appropriate liquid and/or contain different inserts according to the measurements to be performed, such as for example noise and uniformity, CT number linearity, high contrast spatial resolution, low contrast spatial resolution, layer thickness, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: I.R.C.C.S. CENTRO NEUROLESI “BONINO-PULEJO”
    Inventors: Giuseppe Vermiglio, Giuseppe Acri, Barbara Testagrossa, Placido Bramanti, Alessia Bramanti
  • Patent number: 10163231
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus of embodiments includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates a third k-space data group including a first k-space data group and a second k-space data group, by adding the second k-space data group that is arranged in a second range adjacent to a first range, to the first k-space data group that is arranged in the first range and that is undersampled along at least one of the axes in k-space as well as in any axis that is different from the axes in the k-space. The processing circuitry generates an MR image group by performing a reconstruction process on the third k-space data group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kanako Saito, Hidenori Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10151642
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus according to the present disclosure comprise a radiative heating system with a radiation source configured to generate radiation for absorption by an object. A magnetic resonance system is provided with one or more coils configured to transmit and receive radio frequency energy to and from the object. A processor is configured to determine at least one of a temperature of the object and a change in the temperature of the object, based on the radio frequency energy received. A magnetic field source can be configured to generate a magnetic field within the object, and the radio frequency of the energy can be selected for magnetic resonance interactions in the object, based on a strength of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Leeor Alon, Daniel K. Sodickson, Assaf Tal, Christopher M. Collins
  • Patent number: 10141788
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dynamically tuning circuit elements. One aspect includes a variable capacitance device. The device includes a first capacitor, a first switch, a second capacitor, a second switch, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust respective capacitances of the first and second capacitors by causing a first control signal to be applied to the first-switch control terminal for a duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the first switch, and by causing a second control signal to be applied to the second-switch control terminal for the duration of time in response to detecting a zero voltage condition across the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Karnstedt, Christopher Buenrostro
  • Patent number: 10120047
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for performing at least one adjusting measurement for the magnetic resonance apparatus, a localizing measurement is performed using the magnetic resonance apparatus and a localization dataset is created, and at least one examination region on the localization dataset. At least one examination region of the localization dataset is selected, and at least one adjusting measurement is performed according to the at least one selected examination region. The at least one adjusting measurement can be the calculation of a radio-frequency pulse amplitude, the calculation of a system frequency and the calculation of at least one current of at least one shim coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Horger, Michael Koehler, Dieter Ritter, Michael Wullenweber
  • Patent number: 10114101
    Abstract: A flow cell and a method for batch and continuous simultaneous electrochemical (EC) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements. The flow cell includes first and second tubes with hollow interiors and the first tube is removably connected to first and second tube assemblies. The interior of the second tube contains first ends of first and second electrodes and a solution comprising an analyte. When a voltage is applied to the second electrode, the analyte undergoes a reduction or an oxidation process to generate radicals, which in turn, give rise to EPR signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mohamed Aly Morsy, Abdel-Nasser Metwally Kawde
  • Patent number: 10078124
    Abstract: A phantom calibration body (12) for calibrating diffusion MRI device (16) that mimics a material such as a mammalian tissue is disclosed. The phantom calibration body (12) includes a homogeneous aqueous solution (30) that contains a mixture of low molecular-weight and high molecular-weight polymers housed in a container (14) that is placed in the diffusion MRI device (16) for obtaining one or more diffusion MRI images of the phantom calibration body (12). A measure of diffusivity is calculated for each of the one or more diffusion MRI images in order to calibrate the diffusion MRI device. Methods of using the phantom calibration body (12) to calibrate diffusion MRI device (16) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Ferenc Horkay, Carlo Pierpaoli, Peter J. Basser
  • Patent number: 10067215
    Abstract: A new multi-purpose phantom evaluates the performance of an ultra high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus. The phantom can assess a degree of diagnostic capability of an MRI apparatus using imaging conditions and variables and simultaneously analyze and evaluate performance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), performance of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and metabolic components of a human body within a predetermined range of error and limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Catholic University of Korea Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Bo Young Choe, Kyu-Ho Song, Do-Wan Lee
  • Patent number: 10061053
    Abstract: A method for estimating a property of a subsurface material includes conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating the subsurface material and performing an NMR measurement in a volume of interest in the subsurface material using an NMR tool having an antenna disposed at the carrier. The method further includes receiving with the antenna a short build-up signal due to a short magnetization build-up time of the NMR measurement, an echo-train signal with short polarization time due to the NMR measurement, and an echo-train signal with long polarization time due to the NMR measurement. The method further includes inverting, simultaneously, the short build-up signal, the short-polarization-time echo-train signal, and the long-polarization-time echo-train signal using a processor to estimate the property; and transmitting a signal comprising the property to a signal receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Blanz, Holger Frank Thern, Holger Tietjen, Mouin Hamdan, Radu Coman
  • Patent number: 10061048
    Abstract: Methods for analyzing a formation samples using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are described herein. One method includes performing an NMR measurement of the formation sample to obtain NMR data. The NMR measurement detects NMR signals with echo times of less than or equal to 100 microseconds. The NMR data is analyzed to determine a measure of organic hydrogen content of the formation sample, such as (i) total organic hydrogen content, (ii) kerogen content, (iii) bitumen content, and/or (iv) oil content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Qiao Song, Albina Rishatovna Mutina, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Martin Hurlimann
  • Patent number: 10038300
    Abstract: Schemes are described to produce quasi-static charge separation, Terahertz radiation, and programmable magnetic field generation using linearly-polarized light in unbiased, transparent insulators. The methods exploit a recently-observed magneto-electric optical nonlinearity that produces intense magnetization in undoped, homogeneous dielectrics. Analysis reveals that strong magnetic effects can be induced at modest optical intensities even with incoherent light. Consequently, efficient solar power conversion is feasible without the semiconductor processing or electron-hole pair generation that is required in conventional photovoltaic cells. Additionally, conditions and techniques are described to generate intense THz radiation in unbiased substrates and large magnetic fields orientated transverse to the direction of propagation of light, without the need for any external permanent magnetic or electromagnetic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Stephen C. Rand, William M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 10036787
    Abstract: An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) probe head has a microwave resonator with at least two elements which are reflective in the microwave range, at least one of which is focusing. The reflective elements at least partly delimit a resonance volume of the microwave resonator. At least one of the reflective elements is a DBR (“Distributed Bragg Reflector”), and the NMR probe head has at least one NMR coil integrated into the DBR. The NMR detection coil can thereby be positioned particularly near to the sample and the distortions of the static field by resonator components are reduced, such that the detection sensitivity and the spectral resolution of the experiment are significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Krahn, Frank Engelke
  • Patent number: 10031194
    Abstract: An MRIS gradient coil sub-assembly comprising a first coil layer comprising a first conducting coil portion, a second coil layer comprising a second conductive coil portion electrically connected with the first conductive coil portion so that the first and second conductive coil portions act together as one coil, and a B-stage material consolidation layer sandwiched between the first and second coil layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TESLA ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventor: Allen Raymond Camp
  • Patent number: 10024929
    Abstract: A first apparatus includes a vapor cell having first and second cavities fluidly connected by multiple channels. The first cavity is configured to receive a material able to dissociate into one or more gases that are contained within the vapor cell. The second cavity is configured to receive the one or more gases. The vapor cell is configured to allow radiation to pass through the second cavity. A second apparatus includes a vapor cell having a first wafer with first and second cavities and a second wafer with one or more channels fluidly connecting the cavities. The first cavity is configured to receive a material able to dissociate into one or more gases that are contained within the vapor cell. The second cavity is configured to receive the one or more gases. The vapor cell is configured to allow radiation to pass through the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, Peter J. Hopper
  • Patent number: 10012708
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a main magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field, a gradient coil configured to generate a gradient magnetic field, and a radio frequency (RF) coil arrangement including RF components corresponding to volumes representing target regions of a subject, each of the volumes including slices, each RF components including sets of RF coil elements, and each set of RE coil elements being configured to apply RF fields to a slice of the corresponding volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeun-chul Ryu, Young-beom Kim, Jae-Mock Yi
  • Patent number: 10001395
    Abstract: A method for assessing a gas phase in a flowing multi-phase fluid comprises flowing the fluid through magnetic resonance and pre-polarization modules and applying to the fluid a radio-frequency pulse sequence at least once with and at least once without a magnetic field gradient. The method further includes measuring an NMR signal. The method also includes using a calibration between the ratio of slope and intercept of the NMR signal and flow velocity for at least one non-gas phase with the gradient applied to determine that phase's velocity. A calibration between the signal intensity of the liquid phases as function of flow velocity is used, with and without gradient, to correct the gradient-induced attenuation of the liquid signals and to calculate a gradient-corrected signal intensity of the liquid phases without a magnetic field gradient. Additionally, the method includes subtracting the gradient-corrected signal intensity from the NMR signal to calculate the volumetric fraction of the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthias Appel, John Justin Freeman
  • Patent number: 9995803
    Abstract: A progressive series of five new coils is described. The first coil solves problems of transmit-field inefficiency and inhomogeneity for heart and body imaging, with a close-fitting, 16-channel TEM conformal array design with efficient shield-capacitance decoupling. The second coil progresses directly from the first with automatic tuning and matching, an innovation of huge importance for multi-channel transmit coils. The third coil combines the second, auto-tuned multi-channel transmitter with a 32-channel receiver for best transmit-efficiency, control, receive-sensitivity and parallel-imaging performance. The final two coils extend the innovative technology of the first three coils to multi-nuclear (31P—1H) designs to make practical human-cardiac imaging and spectroscopy possible for the first time at 7 T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, Life Services, LLC
    Inventors: J. Thomas Vaughan, Jr., Charles A. Lemaire
  • Patent number: 9979229
    Abstract: In the power supply apparatus (100), on an upper surface (202a), which is the surface opposing the power-receiving unit (153) of a cabinet (103b), in the portion where a power supply coil (103a) is projected when the power supply coil (103a) is projected on the cabinet (103b) toward the direction of the power-receiving unit (153), a first inclined part (203) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the inner edge section (211) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a), and in the portion where the power supply coil (103a) is projected, a second inclined part (204) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the outer periphery (212) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Tatsuta, Osamu Ohashi, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Noriaki Asaoka, Masayoshi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9964501
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes at least one magnet configured to induce a static magnetic field in a sample of material to be analyzed, wherein the sample is disposed on one side of the at least one magnet. The at least one magnet is configured such that the static magnetic field induced in the sample of material to be analyzed is substantially planar along lines of equal static magnetic field amplitude. A method includes inducing a static magnetic field in a sample of material to be analyzed. The static magnetic field is substantially planar along surfaces of equal amplitude of the static magnetic field. The inducing originates on one side of the sample. A radio frequency magnetic field is induced in the sample substantially orthogonally to the static magnetic field. NMR phenomena excited in the sample are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Gersh Z. Taicher
  • Patent number: 9952346
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnetic sensing is described. The apparatus includes a strain-sensing fiber coupled to a conducting strip. The strain-sensing fiber may be, for example, a distributed feedback fiber with Bragg gratings. A current may be induced to flow on the conducting strip by electrically coupling a photodiode to the conducting strip and then activating a laser optically coupled to the photodiode. In the presence of a magnetic field, a Lorentz force will be exerted on the conducting strip, causing a displacement of the conducting strip that will induce strain on the strain-sensing fiber. The strain on the strain-sensing fiber may be measured by laser-pumping the strain-sensing fiber and measuring the reflected waves. The measured strain may be used to calculate the magnitude of the magnetic field. Multiple strain-sensing fibers may be optically coupled in series and deployed into a borehole for distributed magnetic field measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Tasneem Mandviwala, Han-sun Choi
  • Patent number: 9934603
    Abstract: A three-dimensional resolution gauge for evaluating performance of a tomographic imaging system includes a series of groupings of 3-dimensional line pairs. All of the line pairs are oriented at a common set acute angle relative to a reference x-y imaging plane. The frequency of the line pairs of respective groupings of the series vary from highest density to lowest density corresponding to fine resolution and coarse resolution, respectively. Imaging of the series of groupings by the tomographic imaging system provides, in a single scan, a simultaneous visualization of combined effects of x-y in-plane resolution and slice thickness z direction resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: THE PHANTOM LABORATORY, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David J. Goodenough, Joshua R. Levy
  • Patent number: 9915714
    Abstract: Systems and methods employing spin editing techniques to improve magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are discussed. Using these spin editing techniques, magnetic resonance signals of one or more unwanted chemicals (that is, chemicals whose signals are to be filtered out or suppressed) chemicals can be suppressed, so that the signal(s) of a first set of chemicals can be obtained without signals from the one or more unwanted chemicals. Information about and differences between the molecular topologies of the first set of chemicals and the one or more unwanted chemicals can be used to design a sequence that suppresses the one or more unwanted chemicals while allowing acquisition of signal(s) from the first set of chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Qiuhong He
  • Patent number: 9910114
    Abstract: A cooling device is provided for an MRI system. A regulation unit for driving a refrigerant to subject the MRI system to a refrigeration cycle is based on a pre-collected cooling power demand of the MRI system in at least one state. By way of the cooling device and cooling method, the amount of energy needed to cool the MRI device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 9895558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a voxel-type block phantom for a multifunctional radiation measurement apparatus. A phantom, for adjusting an amount of radiation, has solid pixel blocks, having a radiation measuring device equipped therein and different media and densities from one another, assembled on top of one another so as to be assembled into a 3-dimensional voxel, wherein the phantom is formed by placing a solid block which is appropriate for a density that corresponds to each pixel of the 3-dimensional voxel. An inspector can personally and instantly customize a phantom that is appropriate for a subject to be measured and thus can obtain an accurate measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA INDUSTRY—ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Do Kun Yoon, Joo Young Jung, Tae Suk Suh
  • Patent number: 9891179
    Abstract: Apparatus, method and system for processing and interpreting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data acquired for a formation from within a subterranean wellbore that includes independently obtaining D?T1 and D?T2 from the same set of NMR data using a dual step independent 2D inversion method that provides adequate resolution in all dimensions for T1, T2, and D distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Shao, Songhua Chen
  • Patent number: 9885236
    Abstract: Data transmission from a bottom hole assembly (BHA) includes obtaining a scan from multiple scans forming a downhole data log of a borehole within a subterranean formation. The scan includes a sequence of data items from a sensor in the BHA located in the borehole. Each data item corresponds to an azimuth angle of the sensor. Further, compressed scan data is generated from the sequence of data items on a per-scan basis, and transmitted, using a pre-determined borehole telemetry, to a surface unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bo Yu, Han Yu, Remi Hutin, Yong Sun
  • Patent number: 9880239
    Abstract: In a radio frequency coil according to an embodiment, electrical conductors and circuit elements are arranged. The radio frequency coil is configured so that the direction in which two of the electrical conductors forming a ring are connected together by one or more of the circuit elements positioned between the electrical conductors is different from the circumferential direction of the radio frequency coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sadanori Tomiha
  • Patent number: 9864037
    Abstract: A phantom for a medical imaging system with a matrix of spherical hollow elements is provided, with adjacent ones of the elements of a same row being interconnected by and in fluid communication through a hollow tube extending therebetween, with each element being filled with a contrasting solution. Also, a phantom is provided having a plurality of groups of interconnected hollow elements received within a sealed enclosure with the elements of a same one of the groups being in fluid communication with one another and the elements of different ones of the groups being sealed from one another, and the elements of at least one of the groups being filled with a fluid more contrasting than the fluid filling the elements of at least another one of the groups. A method of correcting patient images is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LABORATOIRES BODYCAD INC.
    Inventors: Geoffroy Rivet-Sabourin, Florent Miquel
  • Patent number: 9863246
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon sample is subjected to a chemically selective J-editing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pulse sequence. Resulting signals are analyzed in order to identify a coupling frequency present in at least one molecule of the hydrocarbon sample. A J-coupling frequency of approximately 150 Hz is indicative of a component having an internal double bonded carbon atom (i.e., an olefin). The presence of an olefin in a hydrocarbon sample can be indicative of the presence of a synthetic based mud (SBM) in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soumyajit Mandal, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 9857499
    Abstract: A method of performing an electromagnetic measurement of an earth formation includes disposing a downhole tool in a borehole in an earth formation, the downhole tool including an electrically conductive component, at least one electromagnetic transmitter located at a location along the tool, a first receiver located a first distance from the location, and a second receiver located at a second distance from the location. The method also includes applying a single rectangular current pulse having a substantially constant amplitude to the transmitter to generate an electric current in the formation, the current pulse having a specified time duration ?T. The method further includes measuring transient signals during a time period subsequent to the time in response to the generated current, combining the transient signals to generate a combined transient signal, and estimating a resistivity of the formation based on the combined transient signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Itskovich
  • Patent number: 9846134
    Abstract: Systems and methods for spinwave-based metrology in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure involve generating and detecting spinwaves in a sample having a ferromagnetic material; and determining a material thickness, a material integrity measure, a presence of a manufacturing defect, a categorical type of manufacturing defect, and/or a manufacturing process statistic corresponding to spinwave behavior in the sample. In an embodiment, spinwaves are generated by way of concurrent exposure of a target measurement site of the sample to each of a bias magnetic field and radiation (e.g., microwave or radio frequency radiation) produced by a first set of integrated waveguides. A response signal corresponding to a behavior of spinwaves within the target measurement site can be generated by way of a second set of integrated waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
    Inventors: Hyunsoo Yang, Sankha Subhra Mukherjee, Jae Hyun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9835705
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and methods are provided for producing images of a subject. In some aspects, a method includes identifying a point in the cardiac cycle, performing an inversion recovery (IR) pulse at a selected time point from the pre-determined point, and sampling a k-space segment at an inversion time from the IR pulse that is substantially coincident with the pre-determined point. The method also includes repeating the IR pulse and k-space sampling for multiple inversion times, and multiple segments of k-space, in an interleaved manner, to generate datasets having T1-weighted contrasts determined by their respective inversion times. The method further includes reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) spatially-aligned images using the datasets, and generating a T1 recovery map by combining the 3D images. In some aspects, a prospective/retrospective scheme may be used to obtain data fully sampled in the center of k-space and randomly undersampled in the outer regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian Weingartner, Mehmet Akcakaya, Reza Nezafat
  • Patent number: 9835706
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus to acquire magnetic resonance image data; an examination subject is positioned in a magnetic resonance apparatus to acquire magnetic resonance image data of the examination subject with a magnetic resonance sequence, and sequence parameters of the magnetic resonance sequence are established. First control commands of the magnetic resonance sequence are generated using the established sequence parameters. The first control commands are optimized so as to generate an optimized magnetic resonance sequence, the optimization of the first control commands including a conversion of the first control commands into optimized control commands. A test to review the optimized magnetic resonance sequence is implemented, the test including a comparison of the first control commands with the optimized control commands. The optimized magnetic resonance sequence is executed to acquire the magnetic resonance image data with the optimized control commands depending on the result of the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Carsten Prinz
  • Patent number: 9823205
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining surface relaxivity from nuclear magnetic resonance measurements relate to applying multiple nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusion editing Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) pulse sequences to the porous medium, wherein the diffusion editing CPMG pulse sequences have a diffusion encoding time ?; receiving NMR data generated by the pulse sequences; processing the received NMR data to obtain a distribution f(T2,D) for the diffusion encoding time ?; repeating the applying, the receiving, and the processing at least one time for pulse sequences having different respective diffusion encoding times ? to obtain respective distributions f(T2,D) corresponding respectively to the different diffusion encoding times ?; and utilizing the respectively obtained distributions f(T2,D) to generate a surface relaxivity (?) determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhixiang Luo, Jeffrey Paulsen, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 9820669
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining brain health of a subject include or employ an electrical stimulator configured to apply a current to at least one pair of electrodes, and the electrodes are positioned on a skull of the subject to apply the current and to receive brain activity of the subject. The electrical stimulator is configured to apply a current having a waveform according to a Stochastic Gabor Function (SGF). A signal processor is configured to record the brain activity of the subject in the form of spectral electrical impedance data, and a computer system having non-transient computer readable media is programmed and configured to process the spectral electrical impedance data and indicate an impedance change within the brain of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Giorgio Bonmassar, Eric S. Rosenthal, Michael H. Lev
  • Patent number: 9821169
    Abstract: Disclosed here in are a system and method for providing a magnetic resonance treatment to a subject. In one described embodiment, a system for providing a magnetic resonance treatment to a subject is provided, the system including components that provide the system with an ability to treat pain and relieve symptoms of the subject. In another embodiment, a method of providing a magnetic resonance treatment to a subject is provided, wherein the system includes components that provide the system with an ability to treat pain, relieve symptoms, provide relaxation, and improve the overall comfort and well-being of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Magnetics, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Jacobson, Allen Braswell
  • Patent number: 9817095
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electromagnetic shielding of a device is disclosed for a magnetic resonance system. The device is shielded via a conductive layer which surrounds an inner part of the device in such a manner that an electrical current path completely around the inner part can be formed in the layer. The layer is arranged between a housing of the device, surrounding the inner part, and the inner part. In another embodiment, an electromagnetic shielding of a device is disclosed for a magnetic resonance system, wherein the device is shielded via a conductive layer which surrounds the device in such a manner that an electrical current path completely around the device is formed. In this situation, the device having the layer is mounted by way of projections on the magnetic resonance system. Each projection has a contact surface with the layer, at which the respective projection contacts the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James Corbeil, Ralf Ladebeck, Stefan Stocker
  • Patent number: 9804108
    Abstract: This application is related to a system and methods for sampling fluids and gases using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. Specifically the system is related to an improved metallic pipe design for use at oil and gas well heads that includes integral coils for transmitting an NMR pulse sequence and detecting NMR signals and can be used as a component of an NMR instrument. The methods are related to obtaining and analyzing NMR spectra in stationary and flowing states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Perm Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Serguei I. Krioutchkov, Apostolos Kantzas, Zhengyin Wang
  • Patent number: 9801601
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for performing bone segmentation in imaging data of a section of a body structure is provided. The method includes: Obtaining the imaging data including a plurality of 2D images of the section of the body structure; and performing a multiphase local-based hybrid level set segmentation on at least a subset of the plurality of 2D images by minimizing an energy functional including a local-based edge term and a local-based region term computed locally inside a local neighborhood centered at each pixel of each one of the 2D images on which the multiphase local-based hybrid level set segmentation is performed, the local neighborhood being defined by a Gaussian kernel whose size is determined by a scale parameter (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: LABORATOIRES BODYCAD INC.
    Inventors: Geoffroy Rivet-Sabourin, Vénérée Rakotomalala Randrianarisoa
  • Patent number: 9805149
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field analysis method for an anisotropic conductive material obtained by laminating a first layer, in which a conductivity in a first direction is different from a conductivity in another direction, and a second layer, in which a conductivity in a second direction is different from that in another direction includes: grid-partitioning the first and second layers respectively with a first computational grid having a side extending in the first direction and a second computational grid having a side extending in the second direction; calculating an electromagnetic component of one of electric and magnetic fields in the second grid by interpolation from distribution of an electromagnetic component of the one of electric field and magnetic fields in the first grid; and calculating an electromagnetic component of the other field in the first grid by interpolation from distribution of an electromagnetic component of the other field in the second grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsubata
  • Patent number: 9797975
    Abstract: A phantom for an MRI system is provided. The phantom includes a third layer, the third layer including a first structure and a second structure, the first structure including two adjacent wedge-shaped objects in opposite directions which do not generate magnetic resonance signals, the second structure includes a first module group pair, the first module group pair including a first module group and a second module group, the first module group and the second module group each including multiple modules which are identical to each other, aligned with each other and separated from each other by the same distance, and the first module group and the second module group are perpendicular to each other. The phantom for an MRI system can satisfy measurement of multiple image quality indices such as layer thickness and resolution at the same time, which saves a large amount of repetitive work and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hai Ping Yin, Wen Qiang You
  • Patent number: 9778374
    Abstract: Provided herein is a phantom and a phantom system, the phantom including a plurality of blocks combined having different elastic modulus, and thus may be easily manufactured in various shapes, movements, and densities and may exactly imitate movements of a tissue such as in a lung that has high volume change rates and has a high possibility that a position and shape of a tumor may change, thereby providing an effect of being used in replacement of patients when evaluating 4D-CT performance and measuring radiation amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Jachoon Koo, Hyukjin Lee, Hae Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9759832
    Abstract: An apparatus for NMR properties of subsurface formations includes a magnet, a transmitter antenna and at least one of a receiver section of the transmit antenna or a separate receiver antenna having a length along the longitudinal dimension of the apparatus which is shorter than a length of the transmitter antenna along the longitudinal dimension. The apparatus includes circuitry for applying radio frequency current pulses to the entire transmitter antenna and for receiving signals by the at least one of the receiver section of the transmitter antenna and the separate receiver antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Freedman, Henry Bachman, Anatoly Dementyev, Reza Taherian
  • Patent number: 9753102
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a magnetometer comprise a single-isotope silicon crystal doped with impurity atoms. The Larmor precession associated with energy level transitions of the impurity atoms may be detected and used to measure an external magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventor: Denis Karaiskaj
  • Patent number: 9739860
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an imager adapted to obtain an image of a desired region of interest of a subject and a coil positioned on the desired region of interest of the subject. The coil includes a plurality of markings disposed at a plurality of locations on the coil. The imaging system also includes a position indication device having a user interface adapted to receive input from a user indicating which of the plurality of markings corresponds to a desired scan plane of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Floribertus Philippus Martinus Heukensfeldt Jansen, Robert David Darrow
  • Patent number: 9733326
    Abstract: Systems and methods employing spin editing techniques to improve magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are discussed. Using these spin editing techniques, magnetic resonance signals of one or more non-target chemicals (chemicals whose signals are to be filtered out or suppressed) chemicals can be suppressed, so that the signal(s) of a set of target chemicals can be obtained without signals from the one or more non-target chemicals. Information about and differences between the molecular topologies of the first set of chemicals and the one or more unwanted chemicals can be used to design a sequence that suppresses the one or more unwanted chemicals while allowing acquisition of signal(s) from the first set of chemicals. These techniques can be employed to recover sharp peaks despite magnetic field inhomogeneities and susceptibility effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Qiuhong He
  • Patent number: 9720124
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for characterizing hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation include obtaining a sample of the subterranean formation; measuring, uphole, the porosity of the sample; using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool downhole in the borehole, sending NMR pulse sequences configured for formation pore size and measuring NMR signals that characterize the formation at a location in the formation; analyzing the signals to find a gas porosity of the formation at the location; and determining a hydrogen index (HIg) of the subterranean formation from the gas porosity and from the porosity of the sample. The obtained HIg may then be used in conjunction with downhole NMR measurements to find corrected gas porosities at locations of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Chanh Cao Minh, Ridvan Akkurt, Baarinadh Vissapragada, Yi-Qiao Song, Lukasz Zielinski
  • Patent number: 9719937
    Abstract: A method is provided including obtaining an infrared (IR) spectrum of a blood plasma sample by analyzing the blood plasma sample by infrared spectroscopy, and based on the infrared spectrum, generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor or a pre-malignant condition. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TODOS MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Joseph Kapelushnik, Shaul Mordechai, Ilana Nathan, Udi Zelig, Rami Zigdon
  • Patent number: 9703003
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of analyzing a composition of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid including using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to conduct a NMR relaxation measurement, a diffusion measurement, or both on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid to obtain NMR data, using a non-NMR tool to conduct an additional measurement of a reference fluid to obtain non-NMR data wherein the additional measurement comprises gas chromatography, optical observation, or both, and using the NMR data and the non-NMR data in an inversion process to determine an indication of the composition of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid. In some embodiments, the indication is determined over 4 chain length nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas N. Bennett, Yi Zeng, Lalitha Venkataramanan, Denise E. Freed, Martin D. Hürlimann
  • Patent number: 9696397
    Abstract: Detection and recognition of taggant substances having predefined zero external field magnetic resonance signatures. An object comprising taggant substance(s) is irradiated with a sequence of specific excitation pulses of electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined time and frequency scanning pattern, responsive nuclear spin echo signals are received from the object with a predetermined time and frequency acquisition pattern and data indicative thereof is generated. The scanning and acquisition patterns used permit successive transmission of pulses of multiple frequencies using a two-pulse spin-echo excitation technique, or a steady state-spin echo excitation technique, and successive acquisition of multiple nuclear spin echo response signals, within a time slot between two successive excitation pulses of a specific excitation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MICRO-TAG TEMED LTD.
    Inventors: Yuri Rozenfeld, Alexander Shames, Dmitri Fialkov, Alexander Ovchinikov, Igor Gontcharenko, David Keini