Determine Fluid Flow Rate Patents (Class 324/306)
  • Patent number: 12135147
    Abstract: A heater system includes an integrated heater device and a control system. The integrated heater device includes a thermocouple for measuring temperature and one or more multiportion resistive elements that are operable as heaters to create a temperature differential between the fluid and air to detect the fluid, and as sensors to measure a fluid level. The control device operates the integrated heater device as a sensor or heater based on one or more performance characteristics of the heater system and self-calibrates the heater device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Ohse, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark Everly, Brett Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 12123932
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing at least one of an image or a map of a subject includes controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to perform a pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse selected to induce a phase difference between two echoes at different echo times (TE). The method also includes controlling the MRI system to acquire MR data corresponding to at least the two echoes at different TEs, deriving a static magnetic field (B0) map of the MRI system using the MR data corresponding to the two echoes, and using the B0 map and MR data from at least one of the two echoes, generate a map of T2 of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Daiki Tamada, Scott B. Reeder
  • Patent number: 12123842
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining fibre porosity in a fibre suspension. A sample is taken from a fibre suspension and fibre porosity determination is performed by determining the ratio of fibre-internal water to fibre-external bound water as an online measurement using a NMR spectroscope in successive steps of: generating a magnetic field for exciting protons of water contained in the sample; exciting water molecules of fibre suspension contained in the sample with a frequency pulse provided by a coil; measuring a return signal of the frequency pulse that returns from water molecules to the coil; determining the proton relaxation time and the amplitude of the return signal from the return signal; and determining fibre porosity of the fibre suspension based on the amplitude and the relaxation time of the exponential return signal. Also disclosed is a device for determining fibre porosity of a fibre suspension and a control system connected to a fibre web machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: KAAKKOIS-SUOMEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
    Inventors: Yrjö Hiltunen, Ekaterina Nikolskaya, Jari Käyhkö
  • Patent number: 12004882
    Abstract: An adaptive real-time radial k-space sampling trajectory (ARKS) can respond to a physiologic feedback signal to reduce motion effects and ensure sampling uniformity. In this adaptive k-space sampling strategy, the most recent signals from an ECG waveform can be continuously matched to the previous signal history, new radial k-space locations were determined, and these MR signals combined using multi-shot or single-shot radial acquisition schemes. The disclosed methods allow for improved MRI imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Walter R. T. Witschey, Francisco Contijoch, Mark A. Elliott, Eugene E. Gualtieri
  • Patent number: 11982609
    Abstract: A method for determining lower radius limit of movable throat of shale is provided, and it includes: performing a low-temperature nitrogen adsorption test on a target shale to obtain first pore radii; performing a high-pressure mercury injection test on the target shale to obtain second pore radii; performing a nuclear magnetic resonance test on the target shale to obtain third pore radii; obtaining a relationship diagram of distribution frequencies and pore radii according to three pore radii; distinguishing, according to the pore radii, relationship diagram data, and performing normalization processing to determining a relationship curve of normalized frequency data and the pore radii; and determining a lower radius limit of movable throat of shale according to relationship curve. A problem of describing characteristics of shale occurrence space with complex pore structures and strong heterogeneity is solved, the method is suitable for determining lower radius limit of movable throat of shale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Yu Xiong, LingHong Wang, MeiHua Chen, TingTing Lei, MeiJuan Guo, HaiTao Hong, XiuQing Li, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11921069
    Abstract: The following invention is used for determining the relative permeability of a fluid in a rock for three different phases: water, oil, and gas, in both conventional and unconventional formations. The permeability of a phase describes how much it can flow in porous media given a pressure gradient and is useful in evaluating reservoir quality and productivity. The following invention is a method to determine the three-phase relative permeabilities in both conventional and unconventional formations using NMR restricted diffusion measurements on core with NMR-active nuclei, combined with centrifugation of the core. In addition, the tortuosity, pore size (surface-to-volume ratio), fluid-filled porosity, and permeability is determined for each of the three phases in a rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Vinegar Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Eva Vinegar, Philip M. Singer, George J. Hirasaki, Zeliang Chen, Xinglin Wang, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Patent number: 11906606
    Abstract: The invention relates to an NMR system, and more particularly to an NMR measurement unit including a flow channel for separating a sample from a fluid stream in a process channel, a magnet arranged relative to flow channel for creating a magnetic field in part of flow channel, a coil arranged relative to flow channel for exciting NMR active nuclei of the sample in flow channel and for receiving the frequency pulse that returns to coil from NMR active nuclei, a frame comprising a fastening flange for sealing NMR measurement unit to process channel and a chamber that is closed relative to fluid stream and connected to fastening flange, arranged to be installed mainly inside process channel, within which chamber magnet and coil are arranged and through which chamber the flow channel passes, the frame installable such that flow channel is positioned inside process channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KAAKKOIS-SUOMEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
    Inventors: Yrjö Hiltunen, Ekaterina Nikolskaya
  • Patent number: 11828900
    Abstract: A method can include performing an operation using a system where the operation depends on a decision made via a digital decision model stored in memory of the system; responsive to a decision state of the digital decision model, transmitting a request to update the digital decision model; and responsive to the request, receiving an updated digital decision model, where the updated digital decision model includes at least one new decision state that improves performance of the operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiqiao Tang, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin Hurlimann, Yanxian Lin
  • Patent number: 11821965
    Abstract: A very low frequency (VLF) magnetic field sensor, using spins sourced from insulating ferrimagnetic materials or ferrites, which can achieve high sensitivities competitive with modern sensors while simultaneously maintaining a small size, low power consumption, simplicity of design, and low cost. The magnetic field sensor utilizes nonlinear resonant precession modulation (RPM) dynamics of subatomic spins to attain parametric amplification of a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yuanxun Ethan Wang, Lap Kun Yeung, Kevin Luong
  • Patent number: 11815501
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.
    Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
  • Patent number: 11813048
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for acquiring flow encoded data from a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes acquiring flow encoded (FE) data with alternating encoding polarities and along two of three orthogonal directions through the subject over at least two cycles of the flow within the subject; and separating the FE data into directional FE datasets using a temporal filter that separates the FE data based on temporal modulation of the FE directions caused by the alternating encoding polarities extending over the at least two cycles of the flow within the subject that shift the Fourier spectrum of velocity waveforms corresponding to the FE data. The method also includes using the directional FE datasets to generate an image of the subject showing flow within the subject caused by the at least two cycles of flow within the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peng Hu, Da Wang
  • Patent number: 11693073
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry configured, on a basis of one or both of (A) a parameter related to applying one of inversion and flip pulses and (B) an intensity of a slice selecting gradient magnetic field applied together with the one of the pulses in relation to selecting a slice to which the one of the pulses is applied, to determine one or both of (A) a parameter related to applying the other of the inversion and (B) flip pulses; and an intensity of the slice selecting gradient magnetic field applied together with the other of the pulses in relation to selecting a slice to which the other of the pulses is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Takayanagi, Hiroki Kondo, Masaaki Umeda, Naoyuki Furudate
  • Patent number: 11674835
    Abstract: Flow measurement of hydrogen density, volumetric concentrations, and longitudinal relaxation times and transverse relaxation times have all n components in pairs different to each other. The method has the steps of: enclosing a mixture inside a probe volume and polarizing the mixture with a magnetic field; measuring the mixture enclosed inside the probe volume in terms of its longitudinal or transverse relaxation behaviour by means of pulsed electromagnetic waves at least n times with a different volumetric share of its components to measure at least n different relaxation curves; obtaining the relaxation times from the relaxation curves; obtaining the thermal equilibrium magnetizations M0 of the individual components from the relaxation curves; and correlating yielded thermal equilibrium magnetizations M0 of the individual components to calculate the hydrogen densities and the volumetric share of the components for each relaxation curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: Alwin Bayer
  • Patent number: 11615318
    Abstract: A pattern recognition device comprising: a coupled network of damped, nonlinear, dynamic elements configured to generate an output response in response to at least one environmental condition, wherein each element has an associated multi-stable potential energy function that defines multiple energy states of an individual element, and wherein the elements are tuned such that environmental noise triggers stochastic resonance between energy levels of at least two elements; a processor configured to monitor the output response over time and to determine a probability that the pattern recognition device is in a given state based on the monitored output response; and detecting a pattern in the at least one environmental condition based on the probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul R. De La Houssaye, Benjamin J. Migliori, Adi Ratan Bulsara, Chriswell Hutchens, Justin M. Mauger
  • Patent number: 11525816
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.
    Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
  • Patent number: 11525723
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring fluid properties include circulating a mixed-phase fluid flow through a fluid flow circuit; circulating the mixed-phase fluid flow through a pre-polarizing magnet; polarizing at least a gas phase of the mixed-phase fluid flow to an initial polarization; measuring fluid induction decay (FID) values of the polarized gas phase with the EFNMR detector; determining a velocity of the gas phase based on the FID values of the polarized gas phase; producing a pulsed magnetic field gradient to suppress one or more signals acquired by the EFNMR detector with a first electromagnet; measuring FID values of the liquid phase of the mixed-phase fluid with the EFNMR detector simultaneously with the production of the pulsed magnetic field gradient; producing a homogeneous polarizing field to polarize the liquid phase of the mixed-phase fluid with a second electromagnet; and determining a velocity and content of the liquid phase based on the FID values of the polarized liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Keelan Thomas O'Neill, Michael Leslie Johns, Einar Orn Fridjonsson, Paul Louis Stanwix, Jana M. Al-Jindan, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11525744
    Abstract: A fluid sensor system detects one or more performance characteristics of a heating system that heats a fluid. The sensor system includes a probe having a finite length a portion of which is to be immersed in the fluid. The probe includes a resistive heating element and a fluid temperature sensor for measuring one or more performance characteristics, wherein the fluid temperature sensor is configured to measure a fluid temperature, and the resistive heating element is operable as a heater to create a temperature differential between the fluid and air to detect the fluid, and as a sensor to measure a fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Ohse, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark Everly, Brett Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 11501451
    Abstract: Presented are concepts for detecting subject motion in medical imaging of a subject. One such concept obtains a motion classification model representing relationships between motion of image features and subject motion values. For each of a plurality of medical slice images of an imaged volume of the subject, an image feature of the medical slice image is extracted. Based on the extracted image feature for each of the plurality of medical slice images, motion information for the image feature is determined. Based on the motion information for the image feature and the obtained motion classification model, a subject motion value is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Dinesh Mysore Siddu, Krishnamoorthy Palanisamy, Christopher Stephen Hall, Nagaraju Bussa
  • Patent number: 11478159
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement along the aorta of a subject using MR imaging, a multislice cardio synchronized segmented ciné MR data acquisition sequence is optimized in order to enhance inflow representation in the slice images, in order to make the multislice MR data acquisition sequence viable for clinical uses, so as to acquire intensity-based MR data from two transverse slices spaced from each other along the descending aorta. The respective intensities of relevant pixels in at least two respective slice images are analyzed in order to identify the arrival of a pulse wave in the respective slices by the onset of flow enhancement in the slices, represented by intensity changes in the pixels. From the onset of flow enhancement in the respective slice images, PWV is calculated. An electronic signal representing the calculated PWV is then provided from a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Speier, Kelvin Chow, Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 11464413
    Abstract: One aspect of the present subject matter provides an imaging method including: receiving a trigger signal; after a period substantially equal to a trigger delay minus an inversion delay, applying a non-selective inversion radiofrequency pulse to a region of interest followed by a slice-selective reinversion radiofrequency pulse to a slice of the region of interest of a subject; and after lapse of the trigger delay commenced at the cardiac cycle signal, acquiring a plurality of time-resolved images of the slice of the region of interest from an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Khaled Z. Abd-Elmoniem, Ahmed M. Gharib, Roderic I. Pettigrew
  • Patent number: 11428557
    Abstract: Techniques for measuring liquid properties include circulating a mixed oil-water liquid flow through a fluid flow circuit; polarizing the mixed oil-water liquid flow with a pre-polarizing magnet to an initial polarization; circulating the polarized mixed oil-water liquid flow to an EFNMR detector that includes a radio-frequency (RF) coil and a surrounding electromagnet; further polarizing the polarized mixed oil-water liquid flow with the surrounding electromagnet; measuring fluid induction decay (FID) values of the additionally polarized mixed oil-water liquid flow with the EFNMR detector; transforming the measured FID values to an effective adiabatic transition from the Earth's field to the polarizing field; determining a velocity of the oil in the mixed oil-water liquid flow and a velocity of the water in the mixed oil-water liquid flow based on differences in NMR signal relaxation properties of the transformed FID values; and determining an oil content and a water content of the mixed oil-water liquid flo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Keelan Thomas O'Neill, Michael Leslie Johns, Einar Orn Fridjonsson, Paul Louis Stanwix, Jana M. Al-Jindan, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11412949
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for creating a maximum intensity projection of a volume of an examination subject, MR data are acquired for a number of slices of the volume, and an MR image is reconstructed for each of the slices that MR data have acquired in order to create a maximum intensity projection for each of the slices. The maximum intensity projection of the respective slice is shown on a display. The slices, which have a thickness of at least 15 mm, have various slice directions, in order to display the maximum intensity projections from various directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Flavio Carinci, Wilhelm Horger
  • Patent number: 11287499
    Abstract: In a method for readout segmented magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of an examination object, k-space is acquired in a plurality of segments along a readout direction using a parallel imaging (PI) technique. K-space in a first segment is acquired with a first acceleration factor, and k-space in a second segment is acquired with a second acceleration factor different from the first acceleration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Robin Heidemann, Patrick Liebig
  • Patent number: 11285338
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging guided radiation therapy apparatus comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Nicole Schadewaldt, Steffen Renisch, Sven Prevrhal, Heinrich Schulz, Thomas Blaffert
  • Patent number: 11280864
    Abstract: The present application describes techniques for determining and eliminating a time delay between a radio frequency pulse and a layer selection gradient in a magnetic resonance device. The techniques for determining and eliminating the time delay direct include measuring the time delay between the layer selection gradient and the radio frequency pulse by using phase information. This technique is more sensitive and accurate than existing methods that use signal or artifact strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: De He Weng
  • Patent number: 11249159
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high-resolution STAGE imaging can include acquisition of relatively low-resolution k-space datasets with two separate multi-echo GRE sequences. The multi-echo GRE sequences can correspond to separate and distinct flip angles. Various techniques for combining the low-resolution k-space datasets to generate a relatively high-resolution k-space are described. These techniques can involve combining low-resolution k-space datasets associated with various echo types. The STAGE imaging approaches described herein allow for rapid imaging, enhanced image resolution with relatively small or no increase in MR data acquisition time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SPINTECH, INC.
    Inventors: E. Mark Haacke, Yongsheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11241162
    Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) with regard to acquiring multiple-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images, the method comprising steps of acquiring (48) a first set of magnetic resonance image data (xpre) prior to administering a contrast agent to the subject of interest (20), by employing a water/fat magnetic resonance signal separation technique, determining (52) a first image of the spatial distribution of fat (Ipre) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20), acquiring (50) at least a second set of magnetic resonance image data (x2) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20) after administering the contrast agent to the subject of interest (20), by employing a water/fat magnetic resonance signal separation technique, determining (54) at least a second image of the spatial distribution of fat (I2ph) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20), applying (56) an image registration method to the second image of the spatial
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Board of Regents of the University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Nadine Gdaniec, Peter Boernert, Mariya Ivanova Doneva, Ivan Pedrosa
  • Patent number: 11237236
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of: introducing a medium with a first temperature into a measuring volume; carrying out nuclear magnetic measurements on the medium with the first temperature; determining a property of the medium at the first temperature; determining a viscosity of the medium at the first temperature using the property; and determining a derived property of the medium at a second temperature using the property of the medium at the first temperature, the viscosity of the medium at the first temperature, the first temperature, and the second temperature. The property is at least one of a first spin-lattice relaxation time constant, a first spin-spin relaxation time constant, and a first diffusion time constant. The derived property is at least one of a second spin-lattice relaxation time constant, a second spin-spin relaxation time constant, and a second diffusion time constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KROHNE AG
    Inventor: Rutger Reinout Tromp
  • Patent number: 11221387
    Abstract: Automatically determining a correction factor for producing MR images includes outputting a first readout gradient along a readout dimension, reading out a first MR signal from a subject during the output of the first readout gradient, and specifying a second readout gradient having a theoretically identical gradient moment to the first readout gradient. A temporal waveform that differs from a temporal waveform of the first readout gradient is specified for the second readout gradient. The second readout gradient is output along the readout dimension. A second MR signal is read out from the subject during the output of the second readout gradient. A first extent of a representation of the subject is determined based on the first MR signal. A second extent of a representation of the subject is determined based on the second MR signal. A correction factor is obtained from a ratio between the first and second extents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 11181599
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable storage devices, and systems are described for reducing movement of a patient undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan by aligning MRI data, the method implemented on a Framewise Integrated Real-time MRI Monitoring (“FIRMM”) computing device including at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. Aspects of the method comprise receiving a data frame from the MRI system, aligning the received data frame to a preceding data frame, calculating motion of a body part between the received data frame and the preceding data frame, calculating total frame displacement, and excluding data frames with a cutoff above a pre-identified threshold of the total frame displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Washington University, Oregon Health and Science University
    Inventors: Nico Dosenbach, Jonathan Koller, Andrew Van, Abraham Snyder, Amy Mirro, Damien Fair, Eric Earl, Rachel Klein, Oscar Miranda Dominguez, Anders Perrone
  • Patent number: 11140647
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer software are disclosed for providing high resolution timing advance estimation based on Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). An example method includes receiving a preamble signal r(n) having a predetermined sampling frequency and a predetermined length; correlating a down sampled version of the received preamble with a reference preamble sequence c(n) using an FFT method to provide correlation output Ryc; using a peak value P of the correlation output Ryc to detect a preamble ID and a timing advance at a resolution of 24Ts; zero padding sequences Y(k) and C(k) so that they have a predetermined length resulting in sequences Y_hat(k) and C_hat(k), which are 1024-point FFT of y(n) and c(n); performing a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to estimate a timing offset; and detecting a peak value out of the R_hat(m) and using a corresponding index Q to provide a timing advance with an accuracy of 2Ts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Parallel Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Hemanth Palally, Saikat Senapati, Somasekhar Pemmasani
  • Patent number: 11105878
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes an array radiofrequency coil and processing circuitry operatively linked to the array radiofrequency coil and configured to receive output signals from the array radiofrequency coil commensurate with a simultaneous multi-slice magnetic imaging characterized by simultaneous multi-slice parameters, estimate distorted regions of the image volume using either data obtained via a pre-scan or a pre-computed model, minimize overlap of the distorted regions with image voxels representing tissue to obtain optimized values of the simultaneous multi-slice parameters, configuring and executing the simultaneous multi-slice imaging sequence based on the optimized values of the simultaneous multi-slice parameters, and reconstruct simultaneous multi-slice images with minimized artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anuj Sharma, Andrew J. Wheaton
  • Patent number: 11090008
    Abstract: A system, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring motion during medical imaging. The monitoring of the motion includes initiating an acquisition of image data, measuring physiological signals of a patient, generating a prediction signal by integrating the physiological signals, determining whether patient motion is likely to occur based on the prediction signal and modifying the acquisition of image data, if it is predicted that patient motion is likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Chun-chieh Lee, Robert Manzke, Yuechen Qian, Eric Cohen-Solal
  • Patent number: 10980492
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a sequence controller and a data processor. The sequence controller executes a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods to acquire magnetic resonance signals. The data processor generates multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hoshino, Mitsue Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10983076
    Abstract: A method for suppressing a water line in an acquired magnetic resonance spectra (MRS) y, the method including receiving (800) the acquired MRS spectra y; estimating (802) a water peak ywp for the acquired MRS spectra y using squared eigenfunctions (?) of a Schrödinger operator H; and removing (804) the water peak ywp from the acquired MRS y to obtain a suppressed water MRS spectra yws. The suppressed water MRS spectra yws includes a signature of one or more metabolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSITEIT GENT
    Inventors: Taous Meriem Laleg, Hacene Serrai, Abderrazak Chahid
  • Patent number: 10969368
    Abstract: The liquid chromatograph is provided with: a first dimension analysis unit; a diluent determination unit configured to determine the composition and flow rate of a diluent for diluting an eluent flowing out of the first dimension analysis unit based on the composition of the eluent flowing from the first dimension analysis unit; and a diluent liquid delivery unit configured to deliver the diluent of the composition determined by the diluent determination unit at the flow rate determined by the diluent determination unit so as to be delivered to the trap column while diluting the eluent flowing from the first dimension analysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Saki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 10942236
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry collect first MR data in a first cardiac cycle by excitation of a first region including a first slice, and collects reference data used for phase correction of second MR data on a second slice not included in the first region before and after the collection of the first MR data in the first cardiac cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Tamura, Hiroshi Takai, Nobuyuki Konuma
  • Patent number: 10871538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) placed in a main magnetic field within the examination volume of a MR device (1). It is an object of the invention to facilitate the planning of an arterial spin labeling (ASL) MR imaging session and to improve the image quality in perfusion weighted MR imaging. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: acquiring angiographic MR signal data by subjecting the portion of the examined body (10) to one or more MR angiography scans; deriving quantitative blood flow parameters from the angiographic MR signal data; —computing a labeling efficiency of an ASL sequence from the sequence parameters of the ASL sequence and from the quantitative blood flow parameters; optimizing the sequence parameters by maximizing the labeling efficiency; acquiring perfusion weighted MR signal data by subjecting the portion of the body to the ASL sequence; and—reconstructing a MR image from the perfusion weighted MR signal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Gunter Helle, Peter Boernert, Kim Cornelia Carolina Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 10859549
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.
    Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
  • Patent number: 10845443
    Abstract: A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction using novel k-space sampling sequences is provided. The method includes dividing k-space into a plurality of regions along a dividing direction; scanning an object using a plurality of sampling sequences; acquiring a plurality of groups of data lines; filling the plurality of groups of data lines into the plurality of regions of the k-space; and reconstructing an image based on the filled k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Renkuan Zhai, Guobin Li, Chaohong Wang, Zhaopeng Li, Weiguo Zhang
  • Patent number: 10845442
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured to generate a plurality of reference partial k-space data items based on the filling positions and reference k-space data, generate a plurality of difference k-space data items by taking differences between the partial k-space data items and the reference k-space data items to each of the frames, generate a plurality of difference images by applying the reconstruction processing respectively to the difference k-space data items, and generate a plurality of composite images by combining the reference image with each of the difference images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10794979
    Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100, 300) comprising: a radio-frequency system (116, 122, 124, 126, 126?, 126?, 126??) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (152) from an imaging zone (108), wherein the radio-frequency system comprises multiple antenna elements (126, 126?, 126?, 126??); a memory (140) containing machine executable instructions (170) and pulse sequence commands (150), wherein the pulse sequence commands cause the processor to acquire magnetic resonance data from the multiple antenna elements according to a SENSE protocol; and a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Boernert, Miha Fuderer, Ivan Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 10773093
    Abstract: The invention pertains to advances in real-time methods in nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance imaging, and non-invasive medical ablation by offering: a new real-time processing method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum acquisition without external resonator(s), which remains stable despite magnetic field fluctuations, a new processing method for nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum acquisition, which remains stable despite magnetic field fluctuations and resonator stability, a new method of constructing predetermined magnets from appropriate magnetic material that allows for focusing the magnetic field in a target region, a new dual frequency dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) generator that polarizes the spin of electrons and acts as an NMR transmitter, a new real-time processing method for visualizing, targeting, and guiding surgical and other non-invasive processes, and a new method of non-invasive ablation, heat generation, and chemical reaction activation inside the human body to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Elegant Mathematics LLC
    Inventors: Olena Ibragimova, Ilgiz Ibragimov
  • Patent number: 10732240
    Abstract: Construction methods and techniques allow for a magnetic field of the field homogeneity required for the use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in the order of 20 parts per million (ppm) in the area of interest (such techniques in the following will be indicated with the word “shimming”). The peculiarity of the constructive method is to obtain a homogeneous field region, usable for the MRI analysis, of linear dimensions equal to about 40% of the linear dimensions of the magnet. The shimming technique involves the use of conditioned magnetic material and allows accurate control of the magnetization of the corrective elements while using a material that inherently has a large spread in the magnetization value. The result is a low weight and small magnet suitable for MRI for dedicated clinical applications such as the analysis of the peripheral joint, the analysis of the ocular region, and veterinary applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Antonello Sotgiu
  • Patent number: 10705171
    Abstract: A method for operating a flowmeter for determining the flow of a multiphase medium flowing through a measuring tube using a first and a second measuring device, one of which operates on a tomographic measuring principle and one of which uses a measuring principle based on nuclear magnetic resonance. The first measuring device operates in a different manner from the second measuring device, e.g., using a measuring device operating on the measuring principle of pre-magnetization contrast measurement and having a pre-magnetization section with a constant magnetic field. The magnetic field has at least one component perpendicular to the direction of flow of the multi-phase medium and is generated by using magnetic field generating elements, which are arranged around the measuring tube. Additionally, an assembly for exciting nuclear spin by a RF excitation pulse or a RF excitation pulse sequence is part of the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KROHNE AG
    Inventors: Cornelis Johannes Hogendoorn, Rutger Reinout Tromp, Marco Leendert Zoeteweij, Olaf Jean Paul Bousché
  • Patent number: 10670684
    Abstract: A system includes acquisition of a predetermined number of three-dimensional sub-frames from patient tissue using a T1-weighted radial sampling sequence and without contrast agent, determination of a matching one of a plurality of the three-dimensional images reconstructed from respective subsets of the predetermined number of three-dimensional sub-frames, based on a first three-dimensional image reconstructed from a first-acquired one of the predetermined number of three-dimensional sub-frames, and subtraction of the matching one of the plurality of the three-dimensional images from the first three-dimensional image to generate a second three-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Teja Seethamraju, Ritu Randhawa Gill
  • Patent number: 10663548
    Abstract: A method for contrast agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a target sample, comprising generating a magnetic field shift in a polarizing magnetic field during a relaxation portion of an MRI pulse sequence and thereafter acquiring an MR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
    Inventors: Jamu Alford, Blaine Chronik, Timothy Scholl
  • Patent number: 10660541
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and devices described herein generally relate to achieving accurate and robust motion correction by detecting and accounting for false movements in motion correction systems used in conjunction with medical imaging and/or therapeutic systems. In other words, in some embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices described herein can be configured to detect false movements for motion correction during a medical imaging scan and/or therapeutic procedure, and thereby ensure that such false movements are not accounted for in the motion correction process. Upon detection of false movements, the imaging or therapeutic system can be configured to transiently suppress and/or subsequently repeat acquisitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: The University of Hawai'i, The Queen's Medical Center
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ernst, Brian Keating, Aditya Singh, Maxim Zaitsev, Michael Herbst
  • Patent number: 10663553
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for intra-scan motion correction to compensate not only from one line or acquisition step to the next, but also within each acquisition step or line in k-space. The systems, methods, and devices for intra-scan motion correction can comprise updating geometry parameters, phase, read, and/or other encoding gradients, applying a correction gradient block, and/or correcting residual errors in orientation, pose, and/or gradient/phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Kineticor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ernst, Oliver Speck
  • Patent number: 10641856
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for different degrees of excitation of two different nuclear spin types with Larmor frequencies that are shifted relative to one another during recording of MR data by execution of an MR sequence, an excitation pulse sequence with at least two consecutive excitation pulses with defined time intervals for the exclusive excitation of the first spin type, and an additional pulse sequence with at least one additional pulse that acts at least on the second spin type, are used. A total pulse sequence formed by superimposition of the two pulse sequences is emitted within an excitation period of the MR sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Klarhoefer, Thorsten Feiweier