Using A Nuclear Resonance Spectrometer System Patents (Class 324/307)
  • Patent number: 10502802
    Abstract: Signals of interest in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems comprise narrowband, circularly polarized (CP) radio-frequency magnetic fields from rotating atomic nuclei. Background “body noise” may comprise broadband, linearly polarized (LP) magnetic fields from thermally-activated eddy currents, and may exceed the signal in a band of interest, limiting the imaging resolution and requiring excessive averaging times. Noise may be selectively detected and substantially suppressed, while enhancing the signal of interest, using appropriate digital time-domain algorithms. At least two quadrature receiving antennas may be employed to distinguish and separate the LP noise from the CP signal. At least one broadband receiver may be used to identify and localize fast noise sources and to digitally filter the representation of their radio-frequency magnetic fields in the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Hypres, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Kadin
  • Patent number: 10499856
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for biological signal recording, including modulating a sampled evoked biological signal with a carrier sequence code resulting in a modulated evoked biological signal. The carrier sequence code has an autocorrelation function. The method includes demodulating the modulated evoked biological signal by calculating a convolution of the modulated evoked biological signal with the carrier sequence code resulting in an evoked biological signal spectrum. The evoked biological signal spectrum has a peak to sideband ratio as a function of the carrier sequence code. The method includes calculating deviations between each element of the sampled evoked biological signal and the peak to sideband ratio and filtering noise artifacts from the sampled evoked biological signal based on the deviations. Peak to sideband ratios may also be optimized by varying the sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin C. Fung, Timothy J. Dick, Charles William Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10495714
    Abstract: In a method and a magnetic resonance apparatus for diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion gradients for acquiring diffusion-weighted image data, with anisotropic diffusion directions, are determined by defining a space of achievable diffusion gradient vectors as a cuboid, and then defining a spherical shell around the gradient axes in order to determine specific values of the gradient amplitudes. The resulting diffusion gradient vectors have a direct influence on the achievable signal-to-noise ratio of an individual scan, and the method and apparatus enable an advance selection of a desired effective gradient amplitude, and the presentation to a user of candidate diffusion gradient vectors that satisfy the desired requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 10496934
    Abstract: In some aspects, a quantum computing system includes an electromagnetic waveguide system. The waveguide system has an interior surface that defines an interior volume of intersecting waveguides. Qubit devices are housed in the waveguide system. In some cases, the intersecting waveguides each define a cutoff frequency, and the qubit devices have qubit operating frequencies below the cutoff frequency. In some cases, coupler devices are housed in the waveguide system; each coupler device is configured to selectively couple a pair of neighboring qubit devices based on control signals received from a control source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Rigetti & Co, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Tyler Rigetti, Dane Christoffer Thompson
  • Patent number: 10495705
    Abstract: An radio frequency (RF) transmit module for a magnetic resonance examination system includes a local field monitoring unit that measures a field emitted by an RF transmission element and generates a pick-up coil signal (puc-signal). The puc-signal is amplified and frequency-down-converted by mixing with an oscillator signal. The frequency-down-converted puc-signal and the RF drive signal for the RF transmission element are transferred over a common signal lead. The oscillator signal may also be transferred over the common signal lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Leussler, Peter Vernickel
  • Patent number: 10488473
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) comprising at least one magnetic resonance radio frequency antenna device (30) and at least one metal detector unit (38) for detecting metal within the subject of interest (20) including at least one metal detector coil (40), wherein the at least one magnetic resonance radio frequency antenna device (30) and the at least one metal detector coil (40) mechanically or electrically or spatially form an integral unit (34); and a method of operating, with regard to detecting metal-comprising implants (36) and selecting magnetic resonance pulse sequences, such magnetic resonance imaging system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Leussler, Christian Findeklee, Peter Vernickel
  • Patent number: 10489945
    Abstract: A histogram of values recorded during time units in a time period is represented by dividing the time period into a set of time segments, each time segment thereby being associated with a subset of histogram bins. A graph is displayed that includes drawing an expanding spiral according to a golden ratio spiral, and defining a set of quarter circles using the expanding spiral, each quarter circle having an edge formed by a portion of the expanding spiral, and a center. Drawn within a quarter circle is a set of sectors about the center of the quarter circle. The quarter circle represents a time segment and the set of sectors represent time units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventor: Frederick Dwight Stephens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10488482
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of suppressing noise in an environment of a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The method comprising estimating a transfer function based on multiple calibration measurements obtained from the environment by at least one primary coil and at least one auxiliary sensor, respectively, estimating noise present in a magnetic resonance signal received by the at least one primary coil based at least in part on the transfer function, and suppressing noise in the magnetic resonance signal using the noise estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat, Matthew Scot Rosen, Jonathan M. Rothberg
  • Patent number: 10488484
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method executed in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: applying an inversion pulse; executing a subsequent imaging sequence including an RF (Radio Frequency) pulse and a gradient magnetic field concurrently applied with the RF pulse in a slice direction and performing, for a slice position selected by the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field and during a time period including a null point, data acquisition in a plurality of orientations including a center of a two-dimensional k-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Aiming Lu, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10481235
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence control circuitry conducts, on a subject, first imaging and second imaging that is subsequent to the first imaging. The processing circuitry estimates, based on a magnetic resonance image related to the first imaging and an imaging condition set with regard to the second imaging, information about an image quality in a case in which the second imaging is conducted. The processing circuitry presents, on a display, an estimation result, superimposing the estimation result on the magnetic resonance image. The processing circuitry receives a designation operation on the magnetic resonance image from an operator, and changes a setting of the imaging condition related to the second imaging based on the designation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Nitta, Kensuke Shinoda
  • Patent number: 10473602
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method for configuring and generating a non-adiabatic saturation pulse for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging. One such method configures the pulse by adjusting one or more of pulse amplitude modulation or phase cycling. The modified pulse is transmitted into a fluid such that a substantially uniform nuclear spin saturation or nuclear spin inversion echo response is received from the fluid. A wait time between the pulse transmission and the echo response that indicates that spin equilibrium has been achieved is substantially equal to a T1 time. The wait time is an indication of the characteristics of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang S. Shin, Mark Cheiron Butler
  • Patent number: 10473737
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes a transmit radio frequency (RF) coil assembly comprising multiple capacitor banks each coupled to at least one diode that is characterized by a high breakdown voltage such that when the transmit RF coil assembly applies at least one slice-selecting RF pulse to a portion of a subject placed in the magnet to select a particular slice for MR imaging, the capacitor banks are selectively adjusted to improve an RF transmission characteristics of the RF coil assembly in transmitting the at least one slice-selecting RF pulse. The MR imaging system may further include a receive radio frequency (RF) coil assembly configured to, in response to at least the slice-selecting RF pulse, receive at least one response radio frequency (RF) pulse emitted from the selected slice of the portion of the subject; a housing; a main magnet; gradient coils; and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Robert Oliphant Connell
  • Patent number: 10473744
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a radio frequency (RF) controller configured to control a period of an RF pulse to be applied to an object for a time period that includes a first obtaining time, during which a first inversion RF pulse is applied, and a second obtaining time; and a signal transceiver configured to sequentially receive, during the first obtaining time, a first RF signal for generating a first fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) image regarding a first slice of the object and a second RF signal for generating at least one magnetic resonance (MR) image regarding a second slice of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sang-cheon Choi, Yun-ho Nam, Jong-ho Lee, Dae-ho Lee, Yang-su Ryu, Han Jang
  • Patent number: 10466326
    Abstract: A method of measuring the concentration of a magnetic material in an object using magnetic resonance imaging comprising administering magnetic material to the object; obtaining a set of T1-weighted and T2-weighted images of the object in order to determine a background magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity and measurements of the background nuclear magnetic relaxation times (T1, T2) of the object without magnetic material; and obtaining a set of T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of the object with magnetic materials added; measuring effect of magnetic material on the relaxation times; and converting the T1-weighted and T2-weighted images into a set of contrast images which are subtracted from each other to yield a contrast difference image proportional to the concentration of the magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: STC. UNM
    Inventor: Laurel Sillerud
  • Patent number: 10466330
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging method and apparatus, an excitation pulse flips a magnetization intensity vector of nuclear spins, a subject from the Z direction into the X-Y plane; and a diffusion pulse is applied to the magnetization intensity vector flipped into the X-Y plane in order to perform diffusion weighting. A flip pulse is applied to a magnetization intensity vector that does not meet Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill conditions in the X-Y plane after diffusion weighting in order to flip it back to the Z direction. A data acquisition sequence is activated to acquire imaging data from a residual magnetization intensity vector meeting the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill conditions in the X-Y plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Nan Xiao, Le Zhang, Kun Zhou
  • Patent number: 10466329
    Abstract: An asymmetric 3D shells k-space trajectory design with partial Fourier acceleration is described. A non-iterative homodyne reconstruction framework is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Yunhong Shu, Matthew A. Bernstein, Shengzhen Tao, Joshua D. Trzasko
  • Patent number: 10466323
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver which acquires a magnetic resonance (MR) signal received by at least one channel coil, and an image processor which acquires a data set of a k-space for the at least one channel coil by oversampling the MR signal in a readout direction of the k-space, divides the data set into a plurality of sub-data sets, and acquires an MR image based on the plurality of sub-data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae-ho Lee, Jae-moon Jo
  • Patent number: 10466328
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal emitted from an object; a sampling pattern determiner configured to determine a sampling pattern of k-space based on a sensitivity of the RF coil and signal region information which is information about a signal region where the MR signal is generated; and a digital data obtainer configured to obtain digital data of the k-space by sampling the MR signal based on the determined sampling pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae-ho Lee, Sung-pil Jung
  • Patent number: 10466318
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system includes a volume-type radio-frequency (RF) coil assembly having a volume coil with a plurality of ports and a ring coil with a plurality of ports (p?) and which is situated about the volume-type coil. At least one controller is configured to selectively control a first transmit/receive (T/R) radio frequency (RF) channel to generate an output including RF quadrature signals to drive the volume-type coil and to selectively control a second T/R RF channel to generate an output including RF quadrature signals to drive the ring coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Zhai, Michael Andrew Morich
  • Patent number: 10459059
    Abstract: The invention provides for a Dixon method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (100) system. Acquiring (200) Dixon magnetic resonance data (142), first calibration magnetic resonance data (144), and second calibration magnetic resonance data (146) using pulse sequence commands (140). To cause the magnetic resonance imaging system to execute multiple pulse repetitions (310). The multiple pulse repetitions causes the magnetic resonance imaging system to generate a Dixon readout gradient (320) along a readout direction (402). The pulse sequence commands cause the processor to perform one or more first modified pulse repetitions (306) and one or more second modified pulse repetitions (308).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Eggers
  • Patent number: 10459046
    Abstract: According to at least one of embodiments, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a superconducting magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field; a cryocooler configured to cool down the superconducting magnet in a refrigeration cycle in which mechanical fluctuation with a predetermined period is included; a sequence controller configured to acquire magnetic resonance signals for generating a diagnostic image from an object; and processing circuitry configured to correct phase fluctuation included in the magnetic resonance signals for generating a diagnostic image acquired by the sequence controller, the phase fluctuation being generated by periodic fluctuation of the static magnetic field caused by mechanical fluctuation of the cryocooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Nozaki, Satoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10459043
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500) comprises a high intensity focused ultrasound system (322) configured for sonicating a target volume (340) of a subject (318). The medical apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (302) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (356, 358, 360, 368, 374) from an imaging zone (308). The treatment volume is within the imaging zone. The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (352) containing machine executable, a control module (382, 402) for controlling the sonication of the target volume using the magnetic resonance data as a control parameter, and a processor (346). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to repeatedly acquire (102, 202) magnetic resonance data in real time using the magnetic resonance imaging system and control (104, 206) sonication of the target volume by the high intensity focused ultrasound system in real time using the sonication control module and the magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Patent number: 10459093
    Abstract: A PET-MRI device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The PET device includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine comprising a solenoid coil and a magnetic-field correction coil, wherein the MRI machine has a cylindrical structure or a dipole structure; and a positron emission tomography (PET) machine comprising a PET image sensor, wherein PET image sensor electrodes are formed on one and the other ends of the PET image sensor that have a doughnut shape, and the PET machine has a cylindrical structure or a lattice structure, wherein the PET machine is formed in the MRI machine to allow a direction of an electric field of the PET machine to be parallel to a direction of a magnetic field of the MRI machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jang Ho Ha, Han Soo Kim, Young Soo Kim, Manhee Jeong, Sun Mog Yeo
  • Patent number: 10460253
    Abstract: A method for solving the NP complete problem 3SAT and other computational problems which can be reduced to it. Quantum mechanical operations are performed on a finite number of quantum mechanical bits, or “qubits,” in such a way as to concentrate probability in states which solve a given 3SAT problem, provided they exist. Concentration of probability is achieved by generalizing the traditional, reversible model of quantum computation to include irreversible operations mapping one density matrix to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Zachary B. Walters
  • Patent number: 10459050
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for generating scan data of an examination object, radiation of RF pulses, activation of gradients, and reading out of MR signals generated by the radiated RF pulses and the activated gradients occur according to a pulse sequence. The signals that are stored as scan data. Repetition of the pulse sequence activating respective other gradients takes place until all the desired scan data are stored, wherein for determined repetitions, no gradients are activated. By the performance of repetitions in which no gradients are switched, a minimum repetition time, which is restricted by the utilized gradient unit due to hardware limitations thereof, can be further reduced. Thus repetition times can be selected more freely, e.g. according to a desired contrast, including on magnetic resonance systems with a low gradient output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 10451700
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining magnetic resonance images are provided. The system is programmed to control the RF system to apply a saturation pulse at a reference frequency that saturates a selected labile spin species of the subject. The system is programmed to control the RF system to apply an inversion pulse after a variable delay. The system is programmed to control the RF system and the plurality of gradient coils to apply a motion sensitized driven equilibrium (MSDE) preparation pulse. The system is programmed to control the plurality of gradient coils to read imaging data during an acquisition time period. The system is programmed to reconstruct a T1 mapping image of the subject with black-blood contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Sebastian Weingartner, Mehmet Akcakaya
  • Patent number: 10449160
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system including (1) an injection device including injectable magnetizable nanoparticles and a component for injecting the same, and (2) a unit for applying a constraint physically and/or mechanically to a tumor associated to an neoangiogenic network where, after having been injected, the particles are retained. Also disclosed is a method for treating tumors, especially tumors associated with a neoangiogenic network, including the steps of: injecting a composition including magnetizable nanoparticles; optionally performing imaging using an imaging device to detect a concentration of nanoparticles retained in the neoangiogenic network; and applying a contact-free constraint onto a tumor in vivo, by a gradient of magnetic field and the application being directed to the tumor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CELL CONSTRAINT & CANCER (CC&C)
    Inventor: Remy Brossel
  • Patent number: 10448903
    Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method for deriving respiratory gated PET image reconstruction from raw PET data. In reconstructing the respiratory gated images in accordance with the present invention, respiratory motion information derived from individual voxel signal fluctuations, is used in combination to create usable respiratory phase information. Employing this method allows the respiratory gated PET images to be reconstructed from PET data with out the use of external hardware, and in a fully automated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    Inventor: Adam L. Kesner
  • Patent number: 10451695
    Abstract: There is disclosed an NMR signal processing method for accurately estimating the intensities of p peaks of interest in an NMR spectrum by the use of a mathematical model that represents a time-domain, free induction decay (FID) signal obtained by an NMR measurement as a sum of q signal components. First, q parameters (each being a combination of a pole and a complex intensity) defining q signal components are estimated for each value of the estimation order q of the mathematical model while varying the value of the estimation order q (S34). At each value of the estimation order q, p parameters are selected from the q parameters in accordance with selection criteria (S42, S46). The selected p parameters are evaluated (S48). An optimal value of the estimation order is determined based on the evaluation values produced at the various values of the estimation order q, and p parameters corresponding to the optimal value of the estimation order is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Takako Suematsu, Hiroaki Utsumi, Tomoki Nakao, Toshihiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10444308
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry and a display. The processing circuitry acquires information of an RF (radio frequency) coil. The processing circuitry sets a protocol to be applied to imaging using the RF coil before execution of the imaging. When there are a plurality of protocols that can be selected as the protocol applied to the imaging, the display displays at least one protocol narrowed down from the protocols as the protocol that can be applied to the imaging, based on information of the RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sadanori Tomiha, Miyuki Ota, Keiji Tahira, Satoshi Imai, Mitsuo Takagi
  • Patent number: 10444305
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes a transmitter coil generating a RF magnetic field, a receiver coil, and processing circuitry. The receiver coil receives a MR signal generated by an object placed in an imaging space to which the RF magnetic field is applied. The processing circuitry calculates a specific absorption rate by using a first correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that is inherent to the transmitter coil and relates to the generation of the RF magnetic field, and a second correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that the receiver coil has on the RF magnetic field by electromagnetic coupling between the receiver coil and the RF magnetic field during a generation period of the RF magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sadanori Tomiha, Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 10444314
    Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes a data acquirer configured to under-sample MR signals, respectively received from channel coils included in a radio frequency (RF) multi-coil, at non-uniform intervals to acquire pieces of data set; and an image processor configured to restore pieces of K-space data respectively corresponding to the channel coils by using a positional relationship based on a spatial distance between a reference data set among the acquired pieces of data set and at least two of data set among the acquired pieces of data set, in a K-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang-cheon Choi
  • Patent number: 10436925
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for processing three-dimensional (3D) hexagonally sampled seismic data. The method can include receiving 3D hexagonally sampled seismic data represented using 3D spiral architecture (SA), the 3D hexagonally sampled seismic data including a plurality of data traces each corresponding to center of a hexagon in the 3D SA, representing the 3D hexagonally sampled seismic data as two-dimensional (2D) seismic data using spiral architecture (SA) addressing scheme, and processing the 2D seismic data with an SA based signal processing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Wail A. Mousa, Haroon Ashraf
  • Patent number: 10436867
    Abstract: In a computer and a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for automatic characterization (classification) of liver tissue in a region of interest of a liver, at least one value tuple of the region of interest of the liver is acquired, the value tuple including at least one T1 value determined from magnetic resonance images of the region of interest, or a reciprocal value thereof, and a T2 or T2* value or a reciprocal value thereof. The value tuple is transferred into a multidimensional parameter space and the characterization of the liver tissue is then performed on the basis of the position of the value tuple in the parameter space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Kiefer, Marcel Dominik Nickel, Stephan Kannengiesser
  • Patent number: 10429477
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating a flip angle schedule is provided. The technique includes selecting an initial condition, providing a function for calculating flip angles, calculating flip angles, assessing the flip angles, and repeating the calculation of the flip angles by adjusting the function until a desired flip angle schedule is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Chaohong Wang
  • Patent number: 10429475
    Abstract: A method for maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) in a combined image produced using a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) technique is provided. The image combination used in such techniques require an accurate estimate of the noise covariance. Typically, the thermal noise covariance matrix is used as this estimate; however, in several applications, including accelerated parallel imaging and functional MRI, the noise covariance across the coil channels differs substantially from the thermal noise covariance. By combining the individual channels with more accurate estimates of the channel noise covariance, SNR in the combined data is significantly increased. This improved combination employs a regularization of noise covariance on a per-voxel basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Polimeni, Kawin Setsompop, Lawrence L. Wald
  • Patent number: 10422845
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accelerating magnetic resonance fingerprinting (“MRF”) acquisitions are described. The method includes controlling the MRI system to acquire magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) data from the subject by performing a gradient-echo pulse sequence. The pulse sequence includes maintaining residual transverse magnetization through a delay period performed between successive cycles of the pulse sequence. The delay period is selected to allow spins of different tissue types within the subject to evolve differently as a function of tissue parameters within the different tissue types during the delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Ouri Cohen
  • Patent number: 10425837
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a source device includes one or more tunable elements associated with an antenna. The source device is operable to modulate an impedance of one or more tunable elements based on a sequence of tuning vectors, measure a reference signal amplitude for each tuning vector, and determine field amplitudes for an array of reference points that circumscribe at least a portion of the source device based on the reference signal amplitude for each tuning vector. The source device is further operable to determine a target tuning vector that defines a target radiation pattern based on the field amplitudes, and transmit a target signal to a target device based on the target radiation pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Matthew S. Reynolds, Guy S. Lipworth, Russell J. Hannigan, Daniel Arnitz, Joseph Hagerty
  • Patent number: 10413213
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that includes applying a first labeling pulse sequence to a first labeling region having a first portion of a vasculature of a subject extending through the first labeling region to label spins moving within the first labeling region. A second labeling pulse sequence is applied to a second labeling region having a second portion of a vasculature of the subject extending through the second labeling region to label spins moving within the second labeling region. The first and second labeling pulse sequences include different labeling techniques. An imaging pulse sequence is applied to an imaging region having a third portion of a vasculature of the subject extending through the imaging region that is displaced from the first and second labeling region to acquire imaging data from the spins labeled by the first labeling pulse sequence and the second labeling pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM
    Inventor: Ioannis Koktzoglou
  • Patent number: 10416256
    Abstract: Methods for measuring physico-chemical properties using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer are disclosed, including methods to determine an initial amount of a substance, usually a liquid, contained inside a porous material and an initial amount of the substance, usually a liquid, present outside the porous material, methods to measure the release kinetics of a substance, such as a liquid, from a porous material, and methods for performing chemical reactions and other physico-chemical operations in situ inside a nuclear magnetic resonance probe after a sample is loaded into a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The apparatuses for performing these methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Corkery, Chris Dimelow, Sergey V. Dvinskikh, Adam Feiler, Istvan Furo, Eapen George, Peter Given, Julie Anne Grover, Pavel V. Yushmanov
  • Patent number: 10416266
    Abstract: In multi-echo imaging, in imaging in which pulses other than a 180° pulse are included in refocus RF pulses, a high-quality image in which the intended contrast is emphasized is obtained by reducing unnecessary contrast. Therefore, imaging parameters are adjusted so as to reduce the unnecessary contrast. The adjustment is performed so that, for echo signals from tissues having the same relaxation time to cause intended contrast among echo signals from a plurality of tissues having different relaxation times, the difference between the signal strengths of echo signals to determine the contrast, such as echo signals at the k-space center, is reduced. Imaging parameters to be adjusted include a repetition time, the FA of a DE pulse, the FA of a saturation pulse, the application timing of the saturation pulse, the application strength of a gradient magnetic field in a recovery period, application timing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 10416248
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) apparatuses, systems and methods for analysing a material. The magnetic resonance apparatuses include a primary loop defining an aperture that the material being analysed can pass through where the primary loop includes at least one pair of electrically conductive segments. The magnetic resonance apparatus also includes a pair of capacitance units corresponding to each pair of electrically conductive segments. Each capacitance unit is conductively connected to two adjoining conductive segments in series so that the primary loop forms a circuit for a radio frequency (RF) current. The primary loop is adapted to: conduct the RF electrical current so that the RF electrical current is predominantly in-phase over the entire primary loop. The magnetic resonance apparatus further includes: a pair of secondary coils corresponding to each pair of capacitor units, electrically conductively isolated from the primary loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION
    Inventor: David Geoffrey Miljak
  • Patent number: 10416267
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining a time origin of an input RF pulse of a plurality of input RF pulses. The method includes generating an RF echo based on the plurality of input RF pulses, a time-duration between the input RF pulses being controllable in order to determine a time instance corresponding to an ideal position of the RF echo. The method further includes acquiring a data signal corresponding to a scan of a subject, and computing a time-difference between a measured peak of the acquired data signal and the time instance corresponding to the ideal position of the RF echo, the computed time difference corresponding to a measure of a time-shift of an effective magnetic center of the input RF pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew James Wheaton, Michael R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10408906
    Abstract: A method of SENSE reconstruction including: constructing a coil sensitivity encoding matrix; inversing of the coil sensitivity encoding matrix using a QR decomposition algorithm; and multiplying an inverse of the receiver coil sensitivity encoding matrix with an under-sampled data using a central processing unit (CPU) and using a GPU residing on a host computer to further decrease computation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: COMSATS Institute of Information Technology
    Inventors: Hassan Shahzad, Irfanullah, Hammad Omer
  • Patent number: 10408910
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the actual k-space trajectory implemented when acquiring data with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system while jointly reconstructing an image from that acquired data are described. An objective function that accounts for deviations between the actual k-space trajectory and a designed k-space trajectory while also accounting for the target image is optimized. To reduce the computational burden of the optimization, a reduced model for the parameters associated with the k-space trajectory deviation and the target image can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Cauley, Kawin Setsompop, Lawrence L Wald
  • Patent number: 10408900
    Abstract: The present disclosure in some embodiments provides a method and an apparatus for processing MRI images wherein a plurality of slices of an object is applied with a spatial encoding gradient and a corrected gradient for applying a radial sampling, and radially sampled magnetic resonance signals of the slices are received, and MRI images are generated with the radial sampling applied over multi-bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyun Wook Park, Dong Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 10401455
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for avoidance of artifacts in the acquisition of MR data, first and second undersampled datasets are recorded, the measurement data of each dataset being selected such that artifacts in the first dataset exhibit a phase other than in the second dataset, and the measurement data in the first and second datasets, even when combined, correspond to undersampled dataset. The recorded, undersampled datasets are supplemented with the use of a supplementary kernel of a parallel acquisition method to form supplemented datasets from which a combined, artifact-free dataset is produced. Measurement time is thereby reduced overall compared with customary PAT averaging and compared with recording without the use of a parallel acquisition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Gebhardt, Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 10401456
    Abstract: A method of parallel MR imaging includes subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence of at least one RF pulse and a plurality of switched magnetic field gradients. The MR signals are acquired in parallel via a plurality of RF coils (11, 12, 13) having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume. The method further includes deriving an estimated ghost level map from the acquired MR signals and from spatial sensitivity maps of the RF coils (11, 12, 13), and reconstructing a MR image from the acquired MR signals, the spatial sensitivity maps, and the estimated ghost level map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Elwin De Weerdt, Zhaolin Chen
  • Patent number: 10401444
    Abstract: A quantitative image (resonance frequency map) of a resonance frequency difference is obtained using a high-speed phase compensated pulse sequence of a gradient echo (GE) system. A signal function of the pulse sequence used when obtaining the resonance frequency map is generated by a numerical simulation. The high-speed phase compensated pulse sequence uses a BASG sequence, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yo Taniguchi, Toru Shirai, Suguru Yokosawa, Shinji Kurokawa, Hisaaki Ochi
  • Patent number: 10401461
    Abstract: An object (10) placed in an examination volume of a MR device (1) is subject to an imaging sequence including multi-slice RF pulses for simultaneously exciting two or more spatially separate image slices. MR signals are received in parallel via a set of RF coils (11, 12, 13) having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume. An MR image is reconstructed for each image slice from the acquired MR signals. MR signal contributions from the different image slices are separated on the basis of the spatial sensitivity profiles of the RF coils (11, 12, 13). Side-band artifacts, namely MR signal contributions from regions excited by one or more side-bands of the multi-slice RF pulses, are suppressed in the reconstructed MR images on the basis of the spatial sensitivity profiles of the RF coils (11, 12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Zhaolin Chen, Miha Fuderer