Using A Nuclear Resonance Spectrometer System Patents (Class 324/307)
  • Patent number: 9945916
    Abstract: A device for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a warning signal apparatus configured to emit a warning signal when a limit value is exceeded by a current induced in the device by radiofrequency signals of a magnetic resonance imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Volker Matschl
  • Patent number: 9943246
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Scott B. Reeder, Diego Hernando
  • Patent number: 9945919
    Abstract: A method is provided for modified gradient timing in a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system. The method includes generating radio frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a volume of patient anatomy to provide subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data and generating a sequence of gradient waveforms on a static magnetic field in three directions each orthogonal to each other for slice selection, phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in the volume of patient anatomy. The method also includes receiving, by a controller, an indication of the sequence of gradient waveforms to be applied to a plurality of gradient coils and modifying, via the controller, the sequence of gradient waveforms to be applied to the plurality of gradient coils based on one or more parameters to produce a sequence of modified gradient waveforms. The method further includes providing the sequence of modified gradient waveforms to the plurality of gradient coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Zuehlsdorff, Haris Saybasili, Lars Lauer, David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 9939499
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a static magnetic field magnet, a gradient coil, a bore tube and a sealed space forming unit. The gradient coil is formed to be approximately cylindrical, arranged in a cylinder of the static magnetic field magnet, and adds a gradient magnetic field to the static magnetic field. The bore tube is formed to be approximately cylindrical and arranged in the cylinder of the gradient coil. The sealed space forming unit forms a sealed space enclosing the gradient coil between an inner circumferential side of the static magnetic field magnet and an outer circumferential side of the bore tube. At least a part of at least one of the side ends of the gradient coil does not make contact with the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayumi Katsunuma, Masatoshi Yamashita, Hiromitsu Takamori, Kota Watanabe, Hiroto Asai
  • Patent number: 9939505
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquiring unit and a data processing unit. The data acquiring unit is configured to acquire magnetic resonance signals according to an imaging condition for applying a first off-resonance radio frequency pulse after an application of an excitation pulse and before a readout of the magnetic resonance signals, and applying a second off-resonance radio frequency pulse after the readout of the magnetic resonance signals and before an application of a following excitation pulse. The first off-resonance radio frequency pulse generates a phase shift in the magnetic resonance signals. The second off-resonance radio frequency pulse compensates the phase shift. The data processing unit is configured to obtain information to be obtained by data processing of the magnetic resonance signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Yui
  • Patent number: 9939504
    Abstract: Method to acquire a magnetic resonance data set of an acquisition area (5) in a subject (O) via radial scanning along a fixed number of spokes (6) respectively described by a first angle in k-space, wherein the acquisition area (5) deviates in positional space from a circular shape in a shape that can be described by the set of first angles; wherein the acquisition of the spokes (6) takes place according to an acquisition order; wherein an acquisition position of the acquisition order is associated with each first angle under consideration of a comparison data set of the fixed number of second angles (in which second angles of successive acquisition positions differ by a golden angle) such that, for a first angle of each acquisition position, the spatially adjacent first angles have the same acquisition positions as the second angles spatially adjacent to a second angle of the acquisition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Bauer, Robert Grimm
  • Patent number: 9933503
    Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200, 400, 500) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202), a transducer (222) for mechanically vibrating at least a portion of the subject within the imaging zone. Instructions cause a processor (236) controlling the medical instrument to: control (100) the transducer to vibrate; control (102) the magnetic resonance imaging system to repeatedly acquire the magnetic resonance data (252) using a first spatially encoding pulse sequence (250); control (104) the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire navigator data (256) using a second spatially encoding pulse sequence (254); construct (106) a set of navigator profiles (258, 804, 904, 1004, 1108, 1208, 1308) using the navigator data; determine (108) at least one parameter (260) descriptive of transducer vibrations using the set of navigator profiles; and reconstruct (110) at least one magnetic resonance rheology image (262) from the magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Vernickel, Daniel Wirtz, Christoph Leussler, Peter Mazurkewitz
  • Patent number: 9933505
    Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for estimating bulk rotation and translation of an imaged subject between different blades in a PROPELLER MRI or similar sequence. Correlations between unique pairs of blades are calculated and the relative shift values that maximize the correlation between each pair of blades are identified as relative shift values to be applied for motion correction. Using this method, no reference blade is required, nor does a computationally expensive iterative process need to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dignity Health
    Inventor: James Grant Pipe
  • Patent number: 9918639
    Abstract: A method for acquiring cine images using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes selecting an asymmetric radial sampling scheme providing an asymmetric view of k-space corresponding to a desired image resolution. Radial k-space data is acquired using the asymmetric radial sampling scheme, wherein slice-orientation of the radial k-space data is continuously modified while acquiring the radial k-space data. A plurality of cine images are reconstructed from the radial k-space data using a compressed-sensing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcard GmbH
    Inventors: Hasan Ertan Cetingul, Mariappan S. Nadar, Peter Speier, Michaela Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9921282
    Abstract: A method of measuring NMR response in an NMR instrument includes heating a sample at a heater temperature that is higher than the temperature of the interior of the NMR instrument, positioning the heated sample in the NMR instrument, and measuring the NMR response of the heat sample. Typically, the sample is dry and includes fat. Furthermore, a method of determining an amount of a component of a sample includes positioning a sample in an NMR instrument, applying a sequence of radio-frequency pulses to the sample, measuring the amplitudes of the signals produced by the application of the sequence of radio-frequency pulses, and determining the amount of a component in the sample using the measured amplitudes of the signals. The disclosed methods typically provide accurate analysis of samples in a shorter time period than traditional NMR techniques and solvent-based analysis techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CEM Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Collins, Sr., Jonathan M. Collins, Colin L. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9921280
    Abstract: Provided are an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device and an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance measuring method. The method includes applying a first measurement bias magnetic field corresponding to an excitation frequency of a coherent biomagnetic field generated in association with the electrophysiological activity of human body organs, applying a second measurement bias magnetic field having the same direction as the first measurement bias magnetic field and having a different magnitude than the first measurement bias magnetic field, and measuring a magnetic resonance signal generated in the human body by using magnetic field measuring means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Kiwoong Kim, Yong-ho Lee, Seong-Joo Lee, Kwon-Kyu Yu
  • Patent number: 9922421
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for generating novel diffusion ellipsoid maps from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan data. One example method includes: (i) generating, from DTI scan data, for each voxel in a plurality of voxels in one or more slabs of a target tissue, a respective diffusion tensor; (ii) generating, for each voxel, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the respective diffusion tensor and a respective set of diffusion parameters; (iii) partitioning the voxels into two groups, wherein voxels, whose respective set of diffusion parameters is such that each element in the set is smaller than a corresponding element in a set of thresholds, are substantially all in a first group of the two groups; and (iv) providing a graphical representation of a diffusion ellipsoid map of at least one of the one or more slabs, wherein ellipsoids, associated with voxels in the first group, are displayed differently to the other ellipsoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Hadassa Degani
  • Patent number: 9921286
    Abstract: The MRI apparatus includes a data processor, which time-serially performs undersampling on MR signals respectively received by coil channels included in a radio frequency (RF) multi-coil to acquire undersampled K-t space data, and an image processor that acquires a time-space correlation coefficient, based on noise information of the coil channels, and restores pieces of unacquired line data from the undersampled K-t space data by using the time-space correlation coefficient to acquire restored K-t space data, thereby increasing an accuracy of the time-space correlation coefficient to improve a quality of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Su-gil Kim, Yeol-min Seong, Sang-cheon Choi
  • Patent number: 9921285
    Abstract: Exemplary method, system and computer-accessible medium can be provided which facilitates an acquisition of radial data, which can be continuous, with an exemplary golden-angle procedure and reconstruction with arbitrary temporal resolution at arbitrary time points. According to such exemplary embodiment, such procedure can be performed with a combination of compressed sensing and parallel imaging to offer a significant improvement, for example in the reconstruction of highly undersampled data. It is also possible to provide an exemplary procedure for highly-accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using Golden-Angle radial sampling and multicoil compressed sensing reconstruction, called Golden-angle Radial Sparse Parallel MRI (GRASP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Ricardo Otazo, Li Feng, Tobias Block, Hersh Chandarana, Leon Axel, Daniel K. Sodickson
  • Patent number: 9918688
    Abstract: A method for determining a tissue parameter of tissue that may be determined from passage of a contrast agent through the tissue based on a series of temporally consecutive two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography x-ray images showing propagation of the contrast agent in the tissue over time and a vascular system present in a region of the tissue includes locating at least some of the vessels of the vascular system by segmentation in the x-ray images. The method also includes assigning pixels showing segmented vessels an interpolation intensity determined by interpolation from intensities of at least some of the pixels bordering the segmented vessel, so that x-ray images from which vessels have been eliminated result. The method includes determining tissue parameters for at least some of the pixels of the series of x-ray images from which the vessels have been eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Yiannis Kyriakou
  • Patent number: 9921170
    Abstract: Examples herein include apparatus and techniques that can be used to perform rotational spectroscopy on gas-phase samples. Such techniques can include using a spectrometer providing frequency synthesis and pulse modulation to provide excitation (e.g., pump or probe pulses) of a gas-phase sample at mm-wave frequencies. Synthesis of such mm-wave frequencies can include use of a frequency multiplier, such as an active multiplier chain (AMC). A free induction decay (FID) elicited by the excitation or other time-domain information can be obtained from the sample, such as down-converted and digitized. A frequency domain representation of the digitized information, such as a Fourier transformed representation, can be used to provide a rotational spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Brooks Hart Pate, Amanda Steber, Brent Harris, Kevin K. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 9915717
    Abstract: A method for acquiring image data from a plurality of slice locations in a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The method includes directing the MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes performing a contrast preparation module configured to generate contrast-encoded longitudinal magnetization and an image encoding module configured to acquire image data from multiple slice locations substantially simultaneously. The contrast preparation module generally includes tipping longitudinal magnetization into the transverse plane to produce transverse magnetization, generating contrast-prepared transverse magnetization by establishing an image contrast in the transverse magnetization, and tipping the contrast-prepared magnetization back along the longitudinal axis to produce the contrast-encoded longitudinal magnetization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventor: Kamil Ugurbil
  • Patent number: 9916823
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing gradient waveforms derived from music are provided. A piece of encoded music (e.g., MP3 file) is converted to an encoding gradient associated with a magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) pulse sequence. The encoding gradient may be optimized with respect to maximum gradient amplitude, gradient slew rate, and other properties of a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus that will perform the MRF pulse sequence. The MR apparatus may then be controlled to perform an MRF procedure using the encoding gradient. Performing the MRF procedure using the encoding gradient may cause the MR apparatus to reproduce the piece of encoded music. The encoding gradient may be manipulated (e.g., rotated) to encode additional lines in k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Griswold, Dan Ma
  • Patent number: 9911062
    Abstract: Systems and methods of correcting eddy current-induced background phase (EC-BP) in magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) data. The method includes acquiring a slice of interest (SOI) at a first table position using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the slice of interest having a predetermined imaging orientation and being acquired having predetermined gradient waveforms; acquiring at least one additional slice at a second table position using the MRI scanner, the at least one additional slice having a same imaging orientation as the slice of interest and being acquired using the same gradient waveforms as the slice of interest; determining time-averaged phase maps from the slice of interest and the at least one additional slice; determining a correction map from the time-averaged phase maps; and correcting a background phase (BP) of the slice of interest using the correction map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Rizwan Ahmad, Ning Jin, Orlando P. Simonetti
  • Patent number: 9910161
    Abstract: A radiation detector for a PET-MR apparatus, has a fastening-strength and a high cooling efficiency relative to a photoelectric conversion element. A holding member 31 holds a side-periphery and a bottom of a light detector 7 by a connection element 31a, and is strongly fastened by a connection base 27 and a gimlet hole 31b and a screw 33. A light shielding film 35 is a thin-film and adheres and covers an outer-periphery and the side-periphery of the holding member 31. The radiation detector has a robust fastening-strength, so that a locational shift of the scintillator block 3 is prevented. As a result, the radiation detector can detect ?-ray data accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromichi Tonami, Masafumi Furuta
  • Patent number: 9912340
    Abstract: Methods of generating a gradient waveform, gradient waveform generators and magnetic resonance imaging systems are provided. In one aspect, a first digital value is obtained by quantizing and coding spatial position information of a voxel of a subject according to the number of preset quantization bits, wherein the number of the quantization bits are more than the number of allowed input bits for a DAC; a second digital value is determined to be inputted into the DAC according to the first digital value and the number of the allowed input bits for the DAC; a quantization error is determined according to the first digital value and the second digital value; an error accumulating value is updated by accumulating the quantization error to the error accumulation value; the second digital value corrected according to the error accumulation value; and the corrected second digital value is inputted into the DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Shenyang Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rong Sun, Hongwei Wang, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9910120
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to acquire magnetic resonance data with a diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance sequence wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus as a gradient coil arrangement with three gradient coils designed to generate a gradient in gradient directions orthogonal to one another, the readout gradient is flipped relative to at least one of the gradient directions such that at least two gradient coils contribute to a possible slew rate of a readout gradient pulse, and such that a phase coding gradient that is constant over the readout time period is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 9903930
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to reduce the problem of signal dropout in data acquired using gradient-echo and asymmetric spin-echo magnetic resonance techniques, caused by linear susceptibility gradients in the direction of slice-selection. Specifically an algorithm is used to determine the optimal parameters of a tailored radiofrequency pulse along with the accompanying slice-selection and slice-refocusing gradients to correct this signal dropout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: King's College London
    Inventors: Stephen James Wastling, Gareth John Barker
  • Patent number: 9903925
    Abstract: Provided are a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device and a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance method. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device includes a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) amplification unit to amplify the nuclear polarization of hydrogen atoms of water using a DNP-possible substance (DNP substance) to provide the amplified nuclear polarization to a measurement target, a sensor unit to measure a magnetic resonance signal of the measurement target using a SQUID sensor or an optically-pumped atomic magnetometer, and a measurement field coil to apply a measurement field to the measurement target. The DNP amplification unit is separated from the measurement target, the sensor unit, and the measurement field coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Ki Woong Kim, Seong-Joo Lee, Chan Seok Kang, Seong-min Hwang, Yong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9903929
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) data are acquired with a two-point Dixon technique in which a first spectral component and a second spectral component, for example, a water component and a fat component, are determined. A computation grid of lower resolution in comparison to the MR data is determined, wherein each grid point of the computation grid encompasses a predetermined number of adjacent image points of the MR data. A numerical optimization is implemented for each image point of the MR data, and the first spectral component and the second spectral component are calculated analytically based on the result of the numerical optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marcel Dominik Nickel
  • Patent number: 9897679
    Abstract: A predetermined reference object is arranged in a scan volume of a magnetic resonance system. In the scope of adjustment measurements, the reference object is respectively exposed by a radiofrequency transmitter antenna to an adjustment pulse. Using at least one radiofrequency receiver antenna, a magnetic resonance signal excited by the respective adjustment pulse in the reference object is respectively recorded. An amplitude of a first test pulse is ascertained with the aid of the magnetic resonance signals recorded in the scope of the adjustment measurements. In the scope of a subsequent test measurement, the reference object is exposed to the first test pulse by the radiofrequency transmitter antenna. A first measurement signal dependent on the amplitude of the first test pulse is recorded during the exposure of the reference object to the first test pulse. Further measures are implemented based on the recorded first measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Brinker
  • Patent number: 9897675
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) with simultaneous multivolume acquisition (SMVA) is described. One example nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples (k, t, E) spaces associated with different volumes (e.g., slices) in an object to simultaneously acquire sets of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) spaces. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals and compares the NMR signal evolution to reference signal evolutions. Since different volumes are excited differently, resulting signal evolutions can be acquired simultaneously from the different volumes and NMR parameters may be simultaneously determined for the multiple volumes, which reduces acquisition time and parameter map creation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: Case Western Reserve University, THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kawin Setsompop, Mark Griswold, Huihui Ye, Lawrence Wald, Dan Ma, Yun Jiang
  • Patent number: 9897676
    Abstract: In an RF excitation method and device for a magnetic resonance imaging system, the RF pulses are emitted in a STEAM sequence, the STEAM sequence including, in time order, a first 90-degree excitation pulse, a second 90-degree excitation pulse and a third 90-degree excitation pulse. Gradient pulses are activated that act in cooperation with the STEAM sequence, the gradient pulses including, in time order, a first gradient pulse, a second gradient pulse and a third gradient pulse. Each of the gradient pulses is activated simultaneously with the corresponding RF pulse. The direction of each of the gradient pulses is the vector sum of multiple gradient pulses in different directions, the directions of any two of the gradient pulses being the same and intersecting with the direction of another of the gradient pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Yu Qing Huang, Cong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9897678
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting magnetic resonance (MR) data are provided. One method includes receiving the MR data and correcting errors present in the MR data due to non-uniformities in magnetic field gradients used to generate the diffusion weighted MR signals. The method also includes correcting errors present in the MR data due to concomitant gradient fields present in the magnetic field gradients by using one or more gradient terms. At least one of the gradient terms is corrected based on the correction of errors present in the MR data due to the non-uniformities in the magnetic field gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ek Tsoon Tan, Christopher Judson Hardy, Kevin Franklin King, Zachary William Slavens, Luca Marinelli, Robert Marc Lebel
  • Patent number: 9897573
    Abstract: Exemplary system, method, and computer-accessible medium can be provided for determining at least one property (e.g., an electrical property or a cross-section property) of at least one target. For example, it is possible to determine electromagnetic-field-related quantities associated with signals provided from the target(s). The electromagnetic-field-related quantities can be provided to procedures to relate the electromagnetic-field-related quantities to a plurality of unknown electrical property values and residual field-related unknown values of the target(s). The property(ies) of the target(s) can be determined by determining the plurality of unknown electrical property values and residual field-related unknown values of the target(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Daniel K. Sodickson, Dmitry S. Novikov, Leeor Alon
  • Patent number: 9891303
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance system to correct phase errors in multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulses in a pulse sequence used to operate the system to acquire magnetic resonance data, a multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulse is radiated and multiple calibration gradient echoes are acquired. A phase correction and a time correction of the multidimensional, spatially selective radio-frequency excitation pulse is then calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9892365
    Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes a multi-dimensional array of qubit devices. Coupler devices reside at intervals between neighboring pairs of the qubit devices in the multi-dimensional array. Each coupler device is configured to produce an electromagnetic interaction between one of the neighboring pairs of qubit devices. In some cases, each qubit device has a respective qubit operating frequency that is independent of an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the qubit device, and the coupling strength of the electromagnetic interaction provided by each coupler device varies with an offset electromagnetic field experienced by the coupler device. In some cases, readout devices are each operably coupled to a single, respective qubit device to produce qubit readout signals that indicate the quantum state of the qubit device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rigetti & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Tyler Rigetti, Dane Christoffer Thompson
  • Patent number: 9891300
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance data acquisition, data are acquired according to a single-slab three-dimensional turbo or fast spin-echo pulse sequence, wherein the inner volume selection in the phase-encoding direction takes place by radiating a pair of adiabatic RF pulses, instead of the single refocusing RF pulse that is conventional. The radiation of the adiabatic RF pulses allows a high RF pulse bandwidth to be achieved, for a given limit on the peak radio-frequency field strength. Such a high RF pulse bandwidth reduces off-resonance-related artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: University of Virginia Patent Foundation, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: John Mugler, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9891304
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to continuously correct phase errors in a magnetic resonance measurement sequence in which multiple sequentially radiated, multidimensional, spatially-selective radio-frequency excitation pulses are used, multiple calibration gradient echoes are acquired in a calibration acquisition sequence and a correction value for a phase response and a correction value for a phase difference are calculated from the multiple calibration gradient echoes. Furthermore, an additional radio-frequency excitation pulse is radiated takes into account the correction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9885769
    Abstract: A method of assessing a spatial frequency distribution within a sample comprising subjecting the sample to magnetic resonance excitation, receiving an echo signal from the sample while the sample is subjected to a magnetic field gradient, applying an invertible linear transform to the echo signal, identifying a region of interest in the transformed echo signal and deriving a corresponding window function, applying the window function (in the signal or transform domain) to the echo signal to remove echo signal coming from regions of the sample outside of the region of interest, and analyzing the one dimensional spatial frequency content in the windowed echo signal in order to access a one dimensional spatial frequency distribution within the region of interest within the sample without creating an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Osteotronix Medical PTE Limited
    Inventors: David R. Chase, Timothy W. James, Lance W. Farr
  • Patent number: 9880244
    Abstract: A method that includes obtaining an MRI gradient echo train of at least three echo data sets at differing phase angles; producing a plurality of phase error maps among the at least three echo data sets; and imaging at least three distinct chemical species based on the plurality of phase error maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ken-Pin Hwang, Zachary William Slavens, Ersin Bayram, Kang Wang, Daniel Litwiller, Jingfei Ma
  • Patent number: 9880025
    Abstract: A sensor for sensing an angular orientation of a magnet producing a magnetic field includes a sensing unit having N?2 magnetic field sensing devices MFSD; a scanning circuit for repeatedly sequentially probing at least two of the MFSDs and concatenating signals outputted by the respective MFSDs for obtaining a magnetic signal; a magnet-signal output for outputting the magnetic signal; and a reference output for outputting a reference signal independent of the magnetic field. The sensor includes a first signal processing unit SPU1 and a second signal processing unit which are identically constructed, each having an input and an output; a phase detection unit PDU having a first input PDU1 and a second input PDU2, for deriving phase differences between inputted signals, and for outputting a signal related to the angular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MPS TECH SWITZERLAND SARL
    Inventors: Pavel Kejik, Serge Reymond
  • Patent number: 9874621
    Abstract: A method of generating a susceptibility weighted image of an object in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes: acquiring at least one first complex data piece corresponding to a radio frequency (RF) signal received from the object by using the RF signal; applying a predetermined filter to the at least one first complex data piece to acquire at least one second complex data piece; generating a susceptibility weighted mask by using the at least one second complex data piece; and applying the susceptibility weighted mask to an MRI image of the object to generate the susceptibility weighted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jae-moon Jo, Hyun-wook Park, Yoo-jin Lee, Ye-Ji Han
  • Patent number: 9869739
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance fingerprinting (NMRfp) are described. One example apparatus includes individually controllable radio frequency transmission coils configured to apply varying NMRfp RF excitations to a sample. The NMR apparatus may apply excitations in parallel. The excitations cause different nuclei to produce different signal evolutions. Different pairs of nuclei may produce different signal evolutions depending on quantum correlations between the types of nuclei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Case Wetern Reserve University
    Inventor: Mark Griswold
  • Patent number: 9869732
    Abstract: The invention discloses a decoupling circuit (32) disposed between adjacent RF receive coil elements to automatically decouple the adjacent MRI RF receive coil elements. In one embodiment, the invention involves to inject an RF signal into a first coil element, to measure the RF signal coupled from the first coil element into a second coil element and to adjust the capacitance of the decoupling circuit such as to minimize the coupling between the first and the second coil elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Arne Reykowski
  • Patent number: 9869741
    Abstract: A method for imaging a part region of an examination object in a magnetic resonance system. In an embodiment, a first and second gradient field are respectively created such that, at a respective first and second position at the edge of the field of view, a distortion caused by a non-linearity of the respective first and second gradient field, and a distortion caused by a Bo field inhomogeneity, cancel each other out. By way of the respective first and second gradient, respective first and second magnetic resonance data which contains the respective first and second position are acquired. A first and second respective readout direction, in which the respective first and second magnetic resonance data are acquired, are selected as a function of a location of the respective first and second position. From the magnetic resonance data, an image of the part region is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Matthias Fenchel, Ralf Ladebeck, Harald H. Quick
  • Patent number: 9869742
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a phase image generating unit, an image value acquisition unit and a frequency shift calculation unit. The phase image generating unit executes a sequence including an application of a bipolar gradient pulse and thereby generates a first phase image. The image value acquisition unit acquires an image value of the first phase image. The frequency shift calculation unit determines an amount of frequency shift per unit amount of gradient magnetic field based on magnetic field strength of the bipolar gradient pulse and on the image value of the first phase image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsukazu Kamata, Masaaki Umeda
  • Patent number: 9864036
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes an MRI imaging condition setting unit configured to set an imaging condition frequency-selectively applying a first suppression pulse for suppressing fat and further frequency-selectively applying a second suppression pulse to the fat after applying the first suppression pulse, a slip angle of the second suppression pulse differing from that of the first suppression angle, and the second suppression pulse further suppressing remaining fat after applying the first suppression pulse. The image data acquisition unit acquires image data according to the imaging condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitane, Mitsue Miyazaki, Yuichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9858667
    Abstract: A method includes displaying an iconic image of the human body and a list of predetermined anatomical regions. The method further includes displaying, in response to a user selected anatomical region, a scan box over a sub-portion of the iconic image. The method further includes receiving an input indicative of at least one of a scan box location of interest or a scan box geometry of interest, with respect to the anatomical region, of the first user. The method further includes at least one of re-locating or changing a geometry of the first initial scan box, in response thereto, creating a first user defined scan box for the first user. The method further includes creating a first transformation between a first template image representative of the selected anatomical region and the iconic image with the first user defined scan box for the first user, and storing the first transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Julien Senegas, Axel Saalbach, Martin Bergtholdt, Thomas Netsch, Peter Mazurkewitz
  • Patent number: 9857443
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for an apparatus and a method for measuring and characterizing geometric distortions for a region of interest in images obtained using magnetic resonance. The method comprises deriving a computed set of 3D distortion vectors for a set of points within a region of interest covered by a phantom by using harmonic analysis to solve an associated boundary value problem based on boundary conditions derived from a measured set of 3D distortion vectors. The characterized image distortions may be used for various purposes such as for image correction or for shimming, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: University Health Network
    Inventors: Tony Tadic, Teodor Marius Stanescu
  • Patent number: 9858464
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed to localize and/or image a dense array of particles. In some embodiments, a plurality of particles may be imaged using an imaging device. A plurality of point spread function dictionary coefficients of the image may be estimated using a point spread function dictionary; where the point spread function dictionary can include a plurality of spread function responses corresponding to different particle positions. From the point spread function dictionary coefficients the number of particles in the image can be determined. Moreover location of each particle in the image can be determined from the point spread function dictionary coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, A Body Corporate
    Inventors: Rafael Piestun, Anthony Barsic
  • Patent number: 9851423
    Abstract: The embodiments relate to methods and to magnetic resonance tomography systems having a shim system, where the shim system includes at least one global shim coil in an area surrounding the bore of the magnetic resonance tomography system, and where the shim system includes a local shim coil in a local coil of the magnetic resonance tomography system with a shim controller, where the shim controller embodied to define shim currents for the global shim coil and for the local shim coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Ralf Ladebeck
  • Patent number: 9851420
    Abstract: A transmitter for a magnetic resonance (MR) system, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, is described herein. The transmitter includes a coil for applying NMR pulse sequences to a substance. The coil includes a first coil section and a second coil section. The first coil section and second coil section pass current in opposite polarity. The transmitter may also include a transmitter circuit for generating the NMR pulse sequences and providing the NMR pulse sequences to the coil. The transmitter circuit includes a first switch that selectively powers the first coil section and a second switch that selectively powers the second coil section. Operation of the first switch and the second switch generates the NMR pulse sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 9846215
    Abstract: To avoid discontinuities between echoes from becoming large level differences in a k-space and to reduce artifacts generated in a reconstructed image due to the discontinuities in the k-space, an MRI apparatus of the present invention uses phase characteristics of multiple echoes to be collected after a single RF excitation to control an arrangement order in the k-space where the multiple echoes are arranged when a pulse sequence of the fast spin echo method that collects the multiple echoes using a spin flip after a single RF excitation is executed. The arrangement is controlled so that echoes with small phase errors between the echoes at least near the center of the k-space are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Munesato Hamada, Shouichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 9846212
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, in order to improve saturation of magnetic resonance signals during an acquisition sequence, the acquisition sequence includes at least one acquisition cycle, that includes: a preparation pulse set with a number of preparation pulses, a saturation pulse set that is disjoint from the preparation pulse set, with a number of saturation pulses, and a readout block set with a number of readout blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dominik Paul, Benjamin Schmitt