By Spectrum Storage And Analysis Patents (Class 324/312)
  • Patent number: 11598834
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a scanner that includes a static magnetic field magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field, a gradient coil configured to generate a gradient magnetic field, and a WB (Whole Body) coil configured to apply an RF pulse to an object; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: set (i) a pulse sequence in which a sequence element is repeated, the sequence element including at least an inversion pulse and (ii) a data acquisition sequence executed after a delay time from the inversion pulse; and cause the scanner to execute the pulse sequence by using virtual gating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Yoshimori Kassai
  • Patent number: 11372063
    Abstract: An example multi-channel magnetic resonance (MR) system is described. The system includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) coils and a plurality of spectrometer transceiver channels. Each of the channels including a spectrometer coupled a respective set of the RF coils. The spectrometer is configured to transmit RF signals to excite respective RF coils and to receive MR sensor signals from the excited respective RF coils responsive to excitation thereof. The spectrometer is configured to perform MR spectrometry to provide MR measurement data based on the received MR sensor signals for the respective channel. A synchronization module is coupled to the spectrometer of the respective channel. The synchronization module is configured to synchronize the spectrometer of the respective channel with spectrometers in other channels via a communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Soumyajit Mandal, David Ariando, Mason Greer, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11287501
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing at least one of an image or a map of a subject. The method includes controlling a magnetic resonance imaging system to perform a pulse sequence that includes at least one phase increment of an RF pulse of a gradient echo pulse sequence configured to encode longitudinal relaxation (T1) information in an imaginary component of a magnetic resonance (MR) data received from the subject and encode at least transverse relaxation (T2) information in a real component of the MR data received from the subject. The method also includes generating a T1 image or map of the subject or a T2 image or map of the subject from the MR data and displaying the T1 image or map or the T2 image or map of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Daiki Tamada
  • Patent number: 11280868
    Abstract: Image enhancement systems and methods with variable number of excitation (NEX) acquisitions accelerated using compressed sensing for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are provided. The MR system comprises a body coil adapted to emit electromagnetic waves onto the anatomy of interest and receive the signals emitted from the anatomy of interest. The system comprises variable number of excitations (NEX) based compressed sensing by acquisition of different points in k-space using the body coil. A first neural network comprising an image enhancement module is provided to reconstruct the body coil images that provides a high-quality image. The high-quality image is stored in an image database. A processor is configured to connect the image database to a second neural network that is a deep learning network trained to assess the image quality and provide feedback to the processor and the first neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Ramesh Venkatesan, Imam Ahmed Shaik, Rajagopalan Sundaresan, Ashok Kumar P Reddy
  • Patent number: 11257191
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for deblurring medical images using deep neural networks. In one embodiment, a method for deblurring a medical image comprises receiving a blurred medical image and one or more acquisition parameters corresponding to acquisition of the blurred medical image, incorporating the one or more acquisition parameters into a trained deep neural network, and mapping, by the trained deep neural network, the blurred medical image to a deblurred medical image. The deep neural network may thereby receive at least partial information regarding the type, extent, and/or spatial distribution of blurring in a blurred medical image, enabling the trained deep neural network to selectively deblur the received blurred medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Vance Litwiller, Robert Marc Lebel
  • Patent number: 11221388
    Abstract: A method for the compensation of magnetic field inhomogeneity in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging comprising the steps of using dynamic k-space expansion in combination with parallel imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations
    Inventor: Stefan Posse
  • Patent number: 11204402
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to cylindrical MRI coil arrays with reduced coupling between coil elements. One example embodiment comprises two or more rows, wherein each row comprises at least three RF coil elements of that row enclosing a cylindrical axis; and a ring comprising an associated portion of each RF coil element of a first row and a second row electrically connected together, wherein the associated portion of each RF coil element of the first row and of each RF coil element of the second row comprises an associated capacitor of that RF coil element, and wherein the associated capacitor of that RF coil element is configured to reduce coupling among the RF coil elements of the first row and the RF coil elements of the second row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Quality Electrodynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yang, Tsinghua Zheng, Haoqin Zhu
  • Patent number: 11101543
    Abstract: A wireless communication device includes a housing, an antenna, a metal plate, a sensor and a controller. The antenna placed within the housing. The metal plate is detachably placed in the housing. The metal plate is higher in electric conductivity than the housing and has a surface facing the antenna when the metal plate is placed in the housing. The sensor is configured to sense placement of the metal plate. The controller is configured to receive a result of sensing detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 11016161
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus of reconstructing a magnetic resonance (MR) image, the apparatus including: a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: obtain a plurality of segments of K-space data corresponding to a plurality of pulses which are applied to an object based on a pulse sequence; determine, based on radio frequency (RF) coils of the apparatus, a correction coefficient for merging the plurality of segments of K-space data; and generate a magnetic resonance (MR) image of the object by merging the plurality of segments of K-space data based on the determined correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shantanu Majumdar
  • Patent number: 10989778
    Abstract: An NMR spectrometer includes a compensation system comprising at least one target sample coil and a lock sample coil positioned in a volume of interest between the main magnet poles of a main field magnet that generate a main magnetic field, at least one compensation coil for compensating a drift of the main magnetic field within the volume of interest, at least one target channel for generating RF-pulses with a target excitation frequency, and a lock data treatment system comprising a lock channel for generating RF-pulses with a lock excitation frequency, the lock data treatment system adapting a compensation current in the at least one compensation coil and correcting simultaneously the target frequency by applying a target frequency correction offset at the target channel. The spectrometer lock channel is improved, particularly for measurements where the lock coil and the target coil are positioned separately within the volume of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Bruno Ezequiel Diez, Jorge Antonio Villanueva Garibay
  • Patent number: 10972325
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique related to a method and apparatus for generating a preamble and a data frame for wireless communication, and to a synchronization estimation method using the preamble. According to the technique, a method for generating a frame for wireless communication is disclosed, wherein the method comprises: a step of generating a modified sequence using a first base sequence for synchronization estimation; and a step of allocating the first base sequence and the modified sequence to the frequency domain of a first timeslot to generate a preamble. The modified sequence includes a complex conjugated sequence of the first base sequence or a sequence having a code different from that of the first base sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kapseok Chang, Wooyong Lee, Hyun-Kyu Chung
  • Patent number: 10816689
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to correct measured voltage data for selected weak differential measurements to provide corrected voltage data. Additional activity may include adjusting the corrected voltage data to remove level shifts in the measured voltage data caused by downhole tool impedance to provide adjusted voltage data, converting the adjusted voltage data into apparent resistivity data, inverting the apparent resistivity data to determine true resistivity values for a geological formation, and operating a controlled device according to the true resistivity values for the geological formation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Fouda, Luis Emilio San Martin, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 10768255
    Abstract: In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Jeremy Christopher Jordan, Michael Stephen Poole, Laura Sacolick, Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat
  • Patent number: 10725133
    Abstract: A method for generating a magnetic resonance image of an object in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, wherein the object contains at least one metallic implant is provided. The MRI system provides multiple excitations of at least part of the object. The MRI system reads out image signals from the object. The MRI system saves the readout image signals as image data. A field-map is generated from the image data using a goodness-of-fit process which uses a goodness-of-fit metric, matched-filter, and/or similar fitting techniques to fit expected signals from each excitation to the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Brady J. Quist, Brian A. Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 10702217
    Abstract: A system for imaging a subject is provided. The system includes a radiation source, a radiation detector, and a controller. The radiation source is operative to transmit electromagnetic rays through the subject. The radiation detector is operative to receive the electromagnetic rays after having passed through the subject so as to generate a plurality of projections of the subject. The controller is operative to display one or more selectively adjustable markers that define an image stack. The controller is further operative to reconstruct one or more images within the image stack based at least in part on the plurality of projections. Reconstruction of the one or more images is on demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Katelyn Rose Nye, Benjamin James Beeman, Tabb Patz, Gireesha Rao, Cheryl Ruth Jones, Kristine Gould, Robert Buchanan
  • Patent number: 10641850
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) signal receiving apparatus has multiple local coils, capable of separately receiving MR signals generated by a body in an MR examination, each of the local coils having multiple antenna units and a time division multiplexing module. The time division multiplexing module enables MR signals received by the antenna units separately to be provided as an output by just one output line. The apparatus also has a reception coil channel selector having multiple input interfaces connected to the respective output lines of the multiple local coils, and a combiner in the reception coil channel selector that combines in time or power, all or a portion of the MR signals of the local coils, to form one or more MR composite signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Tong Tong, JianMin Wang, Zhi Bin Li
  • Patent number: 10438345
    Abstract: A symmetric model representing anatomical structures of the brain is adapted to a brain scan image with a transform. First and second points provided on first and second hemispheres of the brain image and a patient-specific symmetric anatomical model of the brain is computed based on the transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Fabian Wenzel, Elizabeth Anne Moore, Thomas Heiko Stehle, Astrid Ruth Franz, Carsten Meyer
  • Patent number: 10338181
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging includes a transmit only (Tx only) RF coil to apply an RF signal to an object, and a receive only (Rx only) RF coil to receive a magnetic resonance signal from a region of interest of the object excited by the applied RF signal. The Tx only RF coil and the Rx only RF coil are disposed such that a first center of the Tx only RF coil and a second center of the Rx only RF coil are spaced apart from each other by a distance identical to a distance between a first peak point of a first magnetic field generated by the Tx only RF coil and a second peak point of a second magnetic field generated by the Rx only RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoung-nam Kim, Jung-hee Lee, Geun-ho Im
  • Patent number: 10324155
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for sparse recovery of fiber orientations using a multidimensional Prony method for use in tractography applications includes performing magnetic resonance imaging to acquire a plurality of sparse signal measurements using a q-space sampling scheme which enforces a lattice structure with a predetermined number of collinear samples. Next, for each voxel included in the plurality of sparse signal measurements, a computer system is used to perform a parameter estimation process. This process includes translating a portion of the sparse signal measurements corresponding to the voxel into a plurality of Sparse Approximate Prony Method (SAPM) input parameters, and applying a SAPM process to the SAPM input parameters to recover a number of fiber populations, a plurality of orientation vectors, and a plurality of amplitude scalars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Evan Schwab, Hasan Ertan Cetingul, Boris Mailhe, Mariappan S. Nadar
  • Patent number: 10317500
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for recording magnetic resonance (MR) signals from an examination object, raw data space is filled with MR signals in raw data lines. Movement information of the examination object is detected during recording of the MR signals and the movement information is grouped into different movement phases of the examination object. A temporally randomly distributed sequence of the recording of the raw data lines is determined, with which at least one predetermined portion of the raw data space is filled MR signals. The MR signals are acquired in the determined temporally randomly distributed sequence of the raw data lines in the predetermined portion. Each recorded raw data line is allocated to one of the movement phases of the examination object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 10295625
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus, which is wirelessly connected to a wireless RF coil equipped with a plurality of coil elements, includes memory circuitry configured to store at least one program and processing circuitry configured, by executing the at least one program, to (a) set an imaging region of an object, (b) identify a position of each of the plurality of coil elements included in the wireless RF coil based on a signal obtained by radio communication with the wireless RF coil, and (c) select at least one of the plurality of coil elements with respect to three axes, based on positional relationship between the imaging region and the position of each of the plurality of coil elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10209330
    Abstract: A method of performing spatially localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy includes receiving a magnetic resonance image of an object; identifying a plurality C of compartments that generate magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals in the object including at least one compartment of interest; segmenting in at least one spatial dimension the magnetic resonance image of the object into the C compartments; acquiring magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals from the compartments by applying a plurality of M? phase encodings applied in the at least one spatial dimension, wherein M??C; calculating a spatially localized magnetic resonance chemical shift spectrum from the at least one compartment of interest; and rendering a spatially localized magnetic resonance spectrum that is substantially equal to a spatial average of magnetic resonance chemical shift spectra from the at least one compartment of interest. A magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging system is configured to perform the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Paul A. Bottomley, Refaat Gabr, Yi Zhang, Robert G. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10191128
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving (RX) radio-frequency (RF) signals suitable for MRI and/or MRS from MRI “coil loops” (antennae) that are overlapped and/or concentric, and each of which has a preamplifier and frequency-tuning circuitry and an impedance-matching circuitry, but wherein the loops optionally sized differently and/or located at different elevations (distances from the patient's tissue) in order to extract signal from otherwise cross-coupled coil loops and to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in images made from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Life Services, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Feinberg, Scott M. Schillak
  • Patent number: 10180475
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) using a frequency swept excitation that utilizes multiple sidebands to achieve significant increases in excitation and acquisition bandwidth are provided. The imaging sequence efficiently uses transmitter power and has increased sensitivity as compared to other techniques used for imaging of fast relaxing spins. Additionally, the imaging sequence can provide information about both fast and slow relaxing spins in a single scan. These features are advantageous for numerous MRI applications, including musculoskeletal imaging, other medical imaging applications, and imaging materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Djaudat Idiyatullin, Curt Corum, Michael Garwood
  • Patent number: 10175378
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to make resistivity measurements in a borehole using tool having an array of electrodes operable to provide focused currents, measure corresponding voltages, and measure corresponding voltage differences to determine resistivity. Tools can be configured to operate at a plurality of modes when voltage differences at some frequencies are effectively unreadable. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanjun Li, Luis Emilio San Martin, Michael S. Bittar, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 10168404
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for automated establishing of the resonant frequency or resonant frequencies, especially of protons for magnetic resonance experiments, at least one signal, especially an FID is acquired and Fourier transformed to a spectrum. The number of resonance peaks of the spectrum is determined and the resonant frequency or resonant frequencies are established dependent on the number of peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kuan Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10130326
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for objectively characterizing a pathological lesion in a patient. The method comprises: introducing into the patient a contrast enhancing agent; subjecting the patient to magnetic resonance imaging to obtain an image; and applying a 3-D autocorrelation function to a subdomain of interest of the image to obtain at least one 3-D autocorrelation spectrum. The method may further comprise comparing the at least one 3-D autocorrelation spectrum to a pre-existing 3-D autocorrelation spectrum that is characteristic for the pathological lesion. In one example, the methods and compositions may be useful for identifying and objectively characterizing amyloid plaque deposits characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ananth Annapragada, Zbigniew Starosolski
  • Patent number: 10120050
    Abstract: In a method to correct a signal phase in the acquisition of MR signals of an examination subject in a slice multiplexing method, in which MR signals from at least two different slices of the examination subject are detected simultaneously in the acquisition of the MR signals, a linear correction phase in the slice selection direction is determined for each of the at least two slices. An RF excitation pulse with a slice-specific frequency is radiated in each of the at least two different slices. A slice selection gradient is activated during a slice selection time period, during which the different RF excitation pulses are radiated in the at least two different slices, and the slice selection time period has a middle point in time in the middle of the slice selection time period, and the different RF excitation pulses temporally overlap for the at least two different slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 10114099
    Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance imaging is provided that includes using a magnetic resonance imaging system to excite a field of view (FOV) for a target being imaged, using an excitation plan to limit the excited FOV to a relatively narrow band of magnetization, exciting multiple bands of magnetization simultaneously, applying phase encoding along a shortest FOV dimension, acquiring a signal from said simultaneously excited bands of magnetization, and reconstructing and outputting a target image from the acquired signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Valentina Taviani, Brian A. Hargreaves, Bruce L Daniel, Shreyas S Vasanawala, Suchandrima Banerjee
  • Patent number: 10078109
    Abstract: The enhanced dynamic range RF pulse measurement system accepts an RF source for spectral analysis. The system includes an RF splitter accepting the RF source under analysis as input. The split output connects to identical precision timing insertion units (TIU) 1 and 2, each time tagging its respective RF signal stream. TIU 1 feeds a first real-time spectrum analyzer (RSA 1) set for strong signals at an exemplary ?3.00 dBm reference level. TIU 2 feeds a second real-time spectrum analyzer (RSA 2) set for weak signals at an exemplary ?15.00 dBm reference level. Outputs of RSA 1 and RSA 2 are then fed to a multi-channel recorder which records the respective time tagged RF signal streams. For each signal stream real-time PDW processing is performed. Output of the recorder feeds a workstation that for any given time tag selects and processes the channel having the highest quality signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: X-COM SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Erisman, Troy D. Calderwood, Marty R. Mosier
  • Patent number: 10060995
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rapidly ramping the magnetic field of a superconducting magnet, such as a superconducting magnet adapted for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, are provided. The magnetic field can be rapidly ramped up or down by changing the current density in the superconducting magnet while monitoring and controlling the superconducting magnet's temperature to remain below a transition temperature. A superconducting switch is used to connect the superconducting magnet and a power supply in a connected circuit. The current generated by the power supply is then adjusted to increase or decrease the current density in the superconducting magnet to respectively ramp up or ramp down the magnetic field strength in a controlled manner. The ramp rate at which the magnetic field strength is changed is determined and optimized based on the operating parameters of the superconducting magnet and the current being generated by the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff A. Stainsby, Chad T. Harris, Alexander G. Panther, Cameron A. Piron
  • Patent number: 10061003
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a method for acquiring MR data at resolutions down to tens of microns for application in in vivo diagnosis and monitoring of pathology for which changes in fine tissue textures can be used as markers of disease onset and progression. Bone diseases, tumors, neurologic diseases, and diseases involving fibrotic growth and/or destruction are all target pathologies. Further the technique can be used in any biologic or physical system for which very high-resolution characterization of fine scale morphology is needed. The method provides rapid acquisition of signal at selected values in k-space, with multiple successive acquisitions at individual k-values taken on a time scale on the order of microseconds, within a defined tissue volume, and subsequent combination of the multiple measurements in such a way as to maximize SNR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: bioProtonics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kristin James, Timothy W. James
  • Patent number: 10061004
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for reconstructing magnetic resonance images using a parallel computing platform comprising a host unit and a graphical processing device includes receiving a plurality of coil data sets from a magnetic resonance imaging system, each respective coil data set comprising scanner data and a coil sensitivity map associated with a distinct coil included in the magnetic resonance imaging system. An iterative compressed-sensing reconstruction process is applied to reconstruct an image based on the plurality of coil data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Mailhe, Qiu Wang, Johannes Flake, Mariappan S. Nadar, Laszlo Lazar, Yuanhsi Chen
  • Patent number: 9927505
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, apparatus, and method. An apparatus includes an array of at least two groups of at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. Each group of the at least two groups configured to be respectively linearly arranged with respect to the z-axis of the bore of MRI or NMR device. Each group of the at least two groups of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells configured to transform an incident pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves into a pulse of radiofrequency magnetic field B1 orientated transverse to a segment of the z-axis and spatially proximate to the group. The apparatus includes a radiofrequency electromagnetic wave conducting structure configured to selectably distribute a received pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves to a group of the at least two groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9927503
    Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus, and a method. An apparatus includes an array of at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. The at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells are configured to generate a pulse of radiofrequency magnetic field B1 orientated transverse to the quasistatic magnetic field B0 parallel to the z-axis of the bore of a MRI or NMR device by transforming an incident pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves. The generated pulse having magnetic field intensity sufficient to excite a detectable magnetic resonance in magnetically active nuclei located within at least a portion of an examination region located within the bore. The apparatus includes a radiofrequency electromagnetic wave conducting structure configured to distribute a received pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves as an incident pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves to the at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9897669
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, apparatus, and method. A system includes an array of at least two groups of at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. Each group includes a controllable amplifier responsive to a B1 localization control signal and configured to amplify a received pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves. Each group includes an electromagnetic wave conducting structure configured to deliver an amplified pulse of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves to the at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. The at least two artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells are configured to transform the incident amplified pulse into a pulse of radiofrequency magnetic field B1 orientated transverse to a segment of the z-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9880240
    Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, apparatus, and method. An apparatus includes an assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells. The assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells includes a first artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell configured to transform incident radiofrequency electromagnetic waves into a radiofrequency magnetic field B perpendicular to the plane of the assemblage. The assemblage of artificially structured electromagnetic unit cells includes a second artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell configured to transform the incident radiofrequency electromagnetic waves into an electric field E counteracting a non-vanishing electric field component generated by the first artificially structured electromagnetic unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, David R. Smith, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov
  • Patent number: 9880247
    Abstract: A method for highly accelerated projection imaging (“HAPI”) is provided. In this method, conventional linear gradients are used to obtain coil sensitivity-weighted projections of the object being imaged. Only a relatively small number of projections, such as sixteen or less, of the object are required to reconstruct a two-dimensional image of the object, unlike conventional projection imaging techniques. The relationship between the voxel values of the imaged object and the coil sensitivity-weighted projections is formulated as a linear system of equations and the reconstructed images are obtained by solving this matrix equation. This method advantageously allows higher acceleration rates compared to echo planar imaging (“EPI”) with SENSE or GRAPPA acceleration. Moreover, the method does not require any additional or specialized hardware because hardware in conventional MRI scanners is adequate to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Medical College of Wisconsin
    Inventors: Lutfi Tugan Muftuler, Ali Ersoz, Volkan Emre Arpinar
  • Patent number: 9869736
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a water/fat image identification method and device including obtaining a water/fat image pair calculated by a Dixon method, and marking these as a first image and a second image; calculating grayscale histograms for the first image and the second image, respectively, to obtain a first grayscale histogram and second grayscale histogram; subtracting the second grayscale histogram from the first grayscale histogram to obtain a water/fat relationship graph; searching for the highest peak and lowest trough in the water/fat relationship graph, and if the highest peak is located behind the lowest trough, determining the first image as being a water image and the second image as being a fat image; and otherwise, determining the opposite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Cong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9864024
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance device includes at least two coil elements that may be read and/or controlled via an amplifier, and a matching circuit for power and/or noise matching between the at least two coil elements and the amplifier. Components of the matching circuit are dimensioned for wideband matching to a frequency band. The frequency band is limited by outermost relevant coupling modes that are displaced from the resonant frequency. The coupling modes occur due to the interaction of a coil element with at least one adjacent coil element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 9829553
    Abstract: In a method and a magnetic resonance (MR) system for functional MR imaging of a predetermined volume segment of THE brain of a living examination subject, an RF excitation pulse is radiated into the subject and at least one magnetic field gradient is activated, and MR data of the predetermined volume segment is acquired beginning at a predetermined echo time after the RF excitation pulse. The echo time is in a time period of 10 ?s to 1000 ?s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Grodzki, Bjoern Heismann, Jeanette Lenger, Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9830718
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, an image processor includes an image generator, a region acquirer, and a label applicator. The region acquirer acquires at least one two-dimensional region designated on at least one first perspective image generated from three-dimensional volume data of a target. The label applicator applies a label on at least one first three-dimensional region. The at least one first three-dimensional region is a part of a second three-dimensional region. The second three-dimensional region is defined by the at least one two-dimensional region, a point and a surface which is defined by a set of straight lines between the point and the boundary of the two-dimensional region. The first three-dimensional region is defined to be a first overlapping region where the three-dimensional volume data and the second three-dimensional region overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryusuke Hirai, Yukinobu Sakata, Yasunori Taguchi, Tomoyuki Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 9696394
    Abstract: A controller of a magnetic resonance system outputs a low frequency base signal to a conversion device. While outputting the base signal to the conversion device, the controller outputs an oscillator control signal to an oscillator. The oscillator outputs a frequency signal corresponding to the oscillator control signal to the conversion device. The conversion device converts the frequency signal into a high frequency transmit pulse with the aid of the base signal and outputs the transmit pulse to a magnetic resonance transmit antenna. The magnetic resonance transmit antenna applies a high frequency field corresponding to a transmit pulse to an examination volume of the magnetic resonance system. The controller varies the oscillator control signal output to the oscillator while outputting the base signal to the modulator. The transmit pulse) has a larger bandwidth than the base signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Gebhardt, Josef Pfeuffer, Thorsten Speckner
  • Patent number: 9651637
    Abstract: A method related to Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) includes a signal processing step in which MPI time signals are acquired and successive acquisition cycles are completed within one scanning period. From the scanning period, an image acquisition period is selected for which a composite time signal is generated by concatenating measured values acquired in immediate succession. A corrected time signal is determined from the composite time signal by windowing, performing a Fourier transform, and reducing a number of frequency values by eliminating intermediate frequencies of the Fourier transform of the windowed, composite time signal. In a reconstruction step, a spatial assignment and/or distribution of the magnetic particles is computed, and in an outputting step, the results of the reconstruction and/or one or more parameters derived therefrom are stored and/or displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Weber, Ulrich Heinen
  • Patent number: 9625543
    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: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat, Matthew Scot Rosen, Jonathan M. Rothberg
  • Patent number: 9599690
    Abstract: In a method for rephasing a first spin system in a first slice with a first coherence curve and a second spin system of a second slice with a second coherence curve, in the generation of MR images with slice multiplexing, a first RF pulse deflects the spin system of the first slice and a second RF pulse deflects the spin system of the second slice. The beginning of the second RF pulse is time-shifted with respect to the beginning of the first RF pulse by a time period that is shorter than the duration of the first RF pulse. A rephasing correction impresses a correction phase on at least one of the spin systems, and signals of the spin systems are respectively detected. The coherence curves are rephased so detection of the signals occurs simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thorsten Feiweier
  • Patent number: 9551773
    Abstract: A system and method involve performing electron paramagnetic resonance on an object under study. The system comprises a first field generator adapted for generating an orienting magnetic field for orienting the magnetization of the object under study and a second field generator adapted for generating RF excitation waves at a frequency to generate electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in the object under test. The system also comprises a detection unit adapted for detecting the EPR signals emitted by the object under test and a control unit adapted for controlling the relative orientation of the orienting magnetic field induced by the first field generator with respect to the detection unit. The system furthermore comprises a processing unit programmed for combining detected EPR signals obtained using different relative orientations of the orienting magnetic field with respect to the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: PEPRIC NV
    Inventors: Peter Vaes, Stephanie Teughels
  • Patent number: 9547057
    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: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hyperfine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Rearick, Gregory L. Charvat, Matthew Scot Rosen, Jonathan M. Rothberg
  • Patent number: 9538936
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an acquisition unit which acquires first data in which a tissue of interest has higher signal intensity than a background and second data in which the tissue of interest has lower signal intensity than the background, with regard to images of the same region of the same subject, and a generation unit which generates, on the basis of the first data and the second data, third data in which the contrast of the tissue of interest to the background is higher than those in the first and second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tokunori Kimura, Masato Ikedo
  • Patent number: 9541621
    Abstract: Techniques for correcting measurement artifacts in MR thermometry predict or anticipate movements of objects in or near an MR imaging region that may potentially affect a phase background and then acquire a library of reference phase images corresponding to different phase backgrounds that result from the predicted movements. For each phase image subsequently acquired, one reference phase image is selected from the library of reference phase images to serve as the baseline image for temperature measurement purposes. To avoid measurement artifacts that arise from phase wrapping, the phase shift associated with each phase image is calculated incrementally, that is, by accumulating phase increments from each pair of consecutively scanned phase images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Insightec, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoav Levy, Arik Hananel, David Freundlich, Gilad Halevy, Benny Assif, Hadas Ziso