With Sample Resonant Frequency And Temperature Interdependence Patents (Class 324/315)
  • Patent number: 12092711
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a sample holder has multiple sample containers. In some instances, the sample holder can be received into a resonator package in a primary magnetic field of a magnetic resonance system. The resonator package includes a resonator configured to interact with a sample in a sample region. The sample holder includes a first sample and a calibration sample. The position of the sample holder relative to the resonator is calibrated. After calibrating the position of the sample holder, the sample holder is translated to position the first sample in the sample region. Magnetic resonance data is acquired based on magnetic resonance signals generated by an interaction between the resonator and the first sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Quantum Valley Investment Fund LP
    Inventors: Wei-Lin Ou, Troy W. Borneman, Derek Blair Poirier Thompson, Hamidreza Mohebbi, Andrew Boorn, Donald Edward Carkner
  • Patent number: 11971374
    Abstract: A method of using the transverse relaxation time (T2) of solvent NMR signal to detect filling errors of an alum-containing product in real-time and in-line during manufacturing, for example during a fill-finish unit operation. This method can be used for quality control in vaccine manufacturing to ensure the delivery of the correct concentration of alum-containing product to the product container such as a vial or pre-filled syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
    Inventors: Yihua (Bruce) Yu, Marc B. Taraban
  • Patent number: 11624794
    Abstract: An automatic protocolling system and methods involving a processor operable by way of a set of executable instructions storable in relation to a nontransient memory device, the set of executable instructions configuring the processor to: receive information relating to an initial protocol comprising an initial ordering of a plurality of sequences, the information comprising data relating to an interaction extent value of at least one of an imaging system and a patient as a function of time corresponding to each sequence in the plurality of sequences, the data relating to a time-integrated effect of each sequence in the plurality of sequences; and dynamically determine an alternative protocol comprising an alternative ordering of the plurality of sequences based on the time-integrated effect, whereby an alternative protocol is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventors: Chad Tyler Harris, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Andrew Thomas Curtis, Philip J. Beatty, Curtis Nathan Wiens
  • Patent number: 11543481
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance elastography (“MRE”), or other imaging-based elastography techniques, generate estimates of the mechanical properties, such as stiffness and damping ratio, of tissues in a subject. A machine learning approach, such as an artificial neural network, is implemented to perform an inversion of displacement data in order to generate the estimates of the mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Matthew C. Murphy, Richard L. Ehman, Kevin J. Glaser, Joshua D. Trzasko, Armando Manduca, John Huston, III, Jonathan M. Scott, Arvin Forghanian-Arani
  • Patent number: 11543371
    Abstract: A method of using the transverse relaxation rate (R2) of solvent NMR signal to detect filling errors of an alum-containing product in real-time in-line during manufacturing, for example during a fill-finish unit operation. This technique can be used for quality control in vaccine manufacturing to ensure the delivery of the correct concentration of alum-containing product to the product container such as a vial or pre-filled syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
    Inventors: Yihua (Bruce) Yu, Marc B. Taraban
  • Patent number: 11484207
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for determining an ultrasound focus location in a thermal image. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a magnetic resonance thermal image of a tissue heated by a focused ultrasound and correcting a chemical shift and a k-space shift of a monitored ultrasound focus location in the magnetic resonance thermal image such that the monitored ultrasound focus location is aligned with a real physical ultrasound focus location. Correcting the chemical shift includes correcting a first spatial error of the monitored ultrasound focus location caused by resonance frequency changes of hydrogen nuclei due to environmental differences of water molecules. Correcting the k-space shift includes correcting a second spatial error of the monitored ultrasound focus location caused by temperature error due to spatial variations of a primary magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Soochow University
    Inventor: Chang-Sheng Mei
  • Patent number: 11137458
    Abstract: A rotor housing assembly for NMR spectroscopy. An elongate rotor has a distal drive end, a proximal end and an internal sample space positioned along its length between the drive and proximal ends. The rotor is driveable about a rotation axis by a drive gas flow. A rotor housing has an interior space in which the rotor is at least partially received. At least one first heated gas flow inlet is positioned opposite the internal sample space, through which a first heated gas flow is controllably flowable into the interior space to heat it and the rotor. At least a pair of spaced apart second heated gas flow outlets are axially spaced from the first heated gas flow inlet to controllably convey a second heated gas flow to heat distal and proximal areas of the sample space to minimize a temperature gradient extending axially within the sample space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Hardeep S. Mehta, Jesse A. Sears, Jr., Eric D. Walter, Nancy M. Washton, Karl T. Mueller, Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 11137443
    Abstract: Systems for probing superconducting circuits, including using a non-magnetic cryogenic heater, are disclosed. A system including a circuit board having a socket and a heater, mounted on the socket, is provided. The heater includes a resistive element and an arrangement for connection with wires configured to supply a current to the resistive element, where the heater is non-magnetic. The system further includes an integrated circuit package, mounted on the socket, such that the heater is located between the socket and the package, where the integrated circuit comprises superconducting circuits having a first temperature corresponding to a superconducting transition temperature. The heater is configured to raise a temperature associated with the integrated circuit from a second temperature to the first temperature, where the second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and where each of the first temperature and the second temperature is a cryogenic temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Miriam E. Marizan, Edward M. Kurek
  • Patent number: 11119169
    Abstract: System and methods that reconstruct absolute temperature using a multi-nuclear approach. Specifically, the methods and systems utilize independent NMR/MRI information provided by the precession frequency of two different nuclei to reconstruct a map of the absolute temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Leeor Alon, Guillaume Madelin, Emilia Silletta, Alexej Jerschow
  • Patent number: 11112469
    Abstract: A method for control of a radio-frequency amplifier of a magnetic resonance system is provided. The method includes determining a radio-frequency power to be output by the radio-frequency amplifier during an examination of a patient in the magnetic resonance system. Using a Lambert W function, a maximum temperature in tissue of the patient is determined as a function of the radio-frequency power. The radio-frequency amplifier is set as a function of the maximum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 11079452
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for magnetic resonance thermometry. In one embodiment, a preliminary balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence is applied to an area of interest of a subject. Based on bSSFP image phases, a relationship between frequency and image phase associated with the area of interest can be determined and a bSSFP magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence applied for temperature change measurement during and/or after focused energy is applied to the subject. Based on image phase change associated with temperature change and using the determined relationship between frequency and image phase, a change in the resonance frequency associated with the target area due to the application of the focused energy can be determined, and the temperature change can be determined based on the determined change in the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Grady Wilson Miller, Yuan Zheng
  • Patent number: 11009572
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for obtaining imaging data using a MRI system configured to provide accurate images with high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) using superconducting magnets with field strengths in the range of 0.5 Tesla (T) to 3 T. The MRI includes a scanning bore deployed within a Cryogen-Free (CF) conduction-cooled superconducting magnet. The CF may have two stages, in which one stage cools a radiation shield down to a mid-level temperature, such as 35-80 degrees Kelvin (K), and the second stage cools the cold-mass further down to about 3-6 degrees K. The two-stage CF cryocooloer is used to cool target bodies of the superconducting magnet system and the receiving RF coil to create a higher SNR relative to when RF coils are not cooled. Sapphire sheets or bars may be used to cool the RF coils because sapphire conducts heat but not electricity, reducing electrical noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Shahin Pourrahimi
  • Patent number: 10845444
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for estimating quantitative parameters of a subject using a magnetic resonance (“MR”) system using a dictionary. The dictionary may include a plurality of signal templates that sparsely sample acquisition parameters used when acquiring data. The acquired data is compared with the dictionary using a neural network. Thus, systems and methods are provided that are more computationally efficient, and have reduced data storage requirements than traditional MRF reconstruction systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ouri Cohen, Bo Zhu, Matthew S. Rosen
  • Patent number: 10598740
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a temperature sensor and a processing circuit. The temperature sensor acquires a temperature. The processing circuit calculates, based on information on an imaging sequence in which magnetic resonance imaging is to be performed, an estimated value of consumption energy of a gradient coil in a case when the imaging sequence is executed and calculates, based on the temperature acquired by the temperature sensor and the estimated value of the consumption energy, an estimated value of a temperature of the gradient coil, the temperature of the gradient coil undergoing changes as the imaging sequence is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Takai, Naoyuki Furudate, Masaaki Nagashima, Yutaka Machii
  • Patent number: 10484583
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera of a mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the camera includes an autofocus coil for moving a lens module, a plurality of optical image stabilization coils, a driver circuit element, connected to the autofocus coil, for passing an alternating current waveform through the autofocus coil, and one or more measurement circuit elements, connected to respective ones of the plurality of the optical image stabilization coils, for measuring changes induced in currents in the respective ones of the plurality of the optical image stabilization coils by the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Gregory, Albert A. Ho, Richard J. Topliss, Richard H. Tsai
  • Patent number: 10310523
    Abstract: A method for operating a temperature control apparatus for a medical examination device, in particular a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein the medical examination device causes a heat input into the body of a patient to be examined during an examination procedure, and wherein the temperature control apparatus has at least one temperature modifier designed for controlling the temperature of the patient, at least one item of heat information that describes the heat balance of the patient is determined, in order to determine a control parameter for controlling at least one ambient parameter that describes the at least one temperature modifier by taking into account at least one ambient condition on the body of the patient, and at least one examination parameter that describes the examination procedure as the input variables of a heat balance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schnetter
  • Patent number: 10274634
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument probe with double-layered magnets and an antenna excitation method, the nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument probe includes: a probe framework and a shielding layer arranged in the probe framework; a plurality of main magnets are provided above and below the shielding layer, respectively; central axes of the main magnets are parallel with each other, and distances between the central axes of each of the main magnets and a central axis of the probe framework are the same; a distance between central axes of any two main magnets is not smaller than a first preset value; and an antenna is provided at outer side of each main magnety. In the present invention, circumferential recognizing capability of the nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument probe can be improved and three-dimensional (radial, axial and circumferential) stratum detection can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM-BEIJING
    Inventors: Lizhi Xiao, Guangzhi Liao, Qunjie Du, Xin Li, Sihui Luo
  • Patent number: 10265016
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system (100) includes a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (110) for providing an image representation of at least a portion of a subject of interest (120), a hyperthermia device (111) for locally heating a target zone within the portion of the subject of interest (120), and one or more processors for controlling the MR imaging system (110) and the hyperthermia device (111). Correlating image representations obtained at different temperatures of the target zone provides information on temperature dependent changes of the metabolism of the subject of interest (120). A treatment module (146) applies a treatment to the subject of interest (120) for destroying cells within the target zone. The one or more processors control the treatment module (146) for applying the treatment based on diagnostic image representations obtained by the diagnostic imaging system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Erkki Tapani Vahala
  • Patent number: 10234518
    Abstract: An MR loop coil design incorporates a balun into the loop coil. With this approach, some components of the coil may be simultaneously part of the imaging coil and the balun. Further, with this approach the number of components used to build an MR coil may be reduced, which may result in a reduction in cost, weight and size. This MR loop coil design may also be used to build phased array coils from the smaller loop size. Such an approach may use small feeder circuit boards oriented generally perpendicular to the coil elements to reduce interactions between the feeder boards and the coils. Such feeder boards may also be made smaller than conventional feeder circuits because the integrated balun coil design may reduce the number of components needed to create balanced coils in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Wolfgang Manfred Loew, Randy Otto Giaquinto, Charles Lucian Dumoulin
  • Patent number: 10228430
    Abstract: A method for the transmission/reception of RF signals for NMR measurements uses a heat exchanger (1) for cooling heat sources (5), the heat exchanger having a contact element (4.2) for thermal connection between a cryogenic fluid and the heat source, is characterized in that the heat exchanger comprises a container having an interior volume VB into which a first cryogenic fluid F1 that has a liquid component F1L and a gaseous component F1G flows through an inflow conduit (8) and from which a second cryogenic fluid F2 that has liquid component F2L and a gaseous component F2G flows out through an outflow conduit (9). The inflow conduit has a flow cross-section QZ and a circumference UZ from which an associated parameter VZ=4·Q2Z/UZ results, wherein VB>10·VZ, and the outflow conduit has a flow diameter QA wherein QA?QZ. The contact element is in close thermal contact with both the liquid volume component VL of the cryogenic fluid and with the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin AG
    Inventors: Marc A. Schnell, Marc Enrique Paredes, Cengiz Cetrefli, Philippe Stauffenegger, Daniel Marek
  • Patent number: 10180362
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-accessible mediums for determining a specific absorption rate (SAR) of a radio frequency (RF) radiation on an object(s) can be provided, which can, for example hardware arrangement configured to receive thermal information for a portion(s) of the at least one object, and determine the SAR based on the thermal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Leeor Alon, Cem Murat Deniz, Gene Young Cho, Leslie F. Greengard
  • Patent number: 10175311
    Abstract: Method for operating a thermal insulation device (100) comprising a screen (101, 102, 103, 104) for insulating a first member (21) and/or a second member (20; 30; 16; 10; 30) from a thermal radiation, the method comprising: a heat-exchange step in which heat is exchanged between a stream of a fluid, notably a gas, and the screen, notably a step of transferring heat from the heat screen to the stream, and a use step in which the stream is used for guiding the first member (21) and/or for driving the movement of the first member and/or for exchanging heat with the first member, notably for cooling the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Gaël De Paëpe, Eric Bouleau
  • Patent number: 10159424
    Abstract: In a method and medical imaging apparatus, for generating medical image data records, raw data of the examination object are acquired by operation of a medical imaging scanner, a reconstruction algorithm issued for reconstructing a medical image data record on the basis of raw data and of a value of a physiological parameter. At least two medical image data records are created by applying the reconstruction algorithm at least twice to the acquired raw data using a different virtual value of the physiological parameter each time. The at least two medical image data records are provided from the reconstruction computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Peter Speier, Aurelien Stalder
  • Patent number: 10151852
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-azimuth nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument and an antenna excitation method, the nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument includes: a probe framework and a shielding layer arranged in the probe framework; a plurality of main magnets are provided above and below the shielding layer, respectively; central axes of the main magnets are parallel with each other, and distances between the central axes of each of the main magnets and a central axis of the probe framework are the same; a distance between central axes of any two main magnets is not smaller than a first preset value; and an antenna is provided at outer side of each main magnet, and a plurality of the antennas are fed independently. In the present invention, circumferential recognizing capability of the nuclear magnetic resonance logging instrument can be improved and three-dimensional (radial, axial and circumferential) stratum detection can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM-BEIJING
    Inventors: Lizhi Xiao, Guangzhi Liao, Xin Li, Feng Deng, Sihui Luo, Zhe Sun, Wei Liu, Weiliang Chen, Jie Wang
  • Patent number: 10126393
    Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance fingerprinting and to a magnetic resonance device is provided. The method for magnetic resonance fingerprinting includes the following method steps—detecting a magnetic resonance signal waveform of an examination area of an examination object by means of a magnetic resonance fingerprinting method, comparing the detected magnetic resonance signal waveform with a number of signal waveforms stored in a database, wherein a database value of at least one tissue parameter is assigned to each of the database signal waveforms, and determining a value of the at least one tissue parameter on the basis of the signal comparison, wherein an influence of a temperature of the examination object on the magnetic resonance signal waveform is taken into consideration in the further processing of the magnetic resonance signal waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 10073153
    Abstract: A device for attaching and detaching a cryogenic probe to and from a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. The device permits the probe to be loaded in the spectrometer in a shortened time and achieves high measurement throughput. The device has loading platforms (11-1, 11-2) on which cryogenic probes (P1, P2) are loaded. Each loading platform has a horizontal drive mechanism, a vertical drive mechanism, and a spacing mechanism. The device further includes probe cooling devices (14-1, 14-2) for circulating a refrigerant to and from the cryogenic probes (P1, P2) via transfer tubes (12-1, 12-2) made of a flexible material, thus cooling the probes (P1, P2). A temperature-controlled gas feeder (18) supplies a temperature variable gas for temperature adjustment to the probes (P1, P2). A vacuum pumping system (15) evacuates the interiors of the probes (P1, P2) via vacuum pipes (17-1, 17-2) made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Hirose, Yoshiaki Yamakoshi, Masahide Nishiyama, Shinji Nakamura, Katsuyuki Toshima, Fumio Hobo, Terumasa Okada, Shigenori Tsuji, Ryoji Tanaka, Hiroto Suematsu
  • Patent number: 10037841
    Abstract: A magnetic field generating apparatus comprises two or more co-facing, coaxial magnetic field generators configured to generate equivalent magnetic fields directed toward a symmetrically central convergence plane; a magnetically shielding encasement configured to contain all of the associated magnetic fields generated by the coaxial magnetic field generators; and articulation frames and supports for positioning of the apparatus about a fixed point, wherein the generated magnetic fields are counter-rotated relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Vincent Suzara
  • Patent number: 9995802
    Abstract: The NMR analysis method for analyzing a solid sample positioned in a sample-holder (21) includes generation of a plurality of high-pressure gaseous flows (2, 3, 4) from at least one first source (1) of a high-pressure gas; cooling of the gaseous flows (2, 3, 4) in at least one heat exchanger (12) from a coolant gas (15) originating from at least one second source (11) of gas; and rotation of the sample-holder (21) by a first cooled high-pressure gaseous flow (2) and cooling of the sample-holder by a second cooled high-pressure gaseous flow (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Eric Bouleau, Gaël De Paëpe
  • Patent number: 9971003
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (332) storing machine readable instructions (352, 354, 356, 358, 470, 472, 474) for execution by a processor (326). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire (100, 202) spectroscopic magnetic resonance data (334). Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to calculate (102, 204) a calibration thermal map (336) using the spectroscopic magnetic resonance data. Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to acquire (104, 206) baseline magnetic resonance thermometry data (338). Execution of the instructions further causes the processor to repeatedly acquire (106, 212) magnetic resonance thermometry data (340).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Max Oskar Köhler, Erkki Tapani Vahala, Kirsi Ilona Nurmilaukas
  • Patent number: 9877791
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide visualization of the projected results of an aesthetic treatment, such as facial skin therapy, using an image display device and a plurality of stored transformation instructions. The system receives an input image of a subject, such as a recent portrait photograph. The system determines the aesthetic treatment to apply, retrieves the associated transformation instructions, and transforms the input image with the transformation instructions to produce a modified image that represents changes to the subject's face that are expected to occur after the selected treatment. The system may include or access a virtual treatment visualization engine that stores transformation parameters describing changes to make to the input image based on the selected treatment and other input parameters. The transformation parameters may be obtained from a model that received the selected treatment. The system may determine similarities of the subject to the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PERSAIS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Slayton, Vadim Kouklev
  • Patent number: 9872622
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance scanner (12) is configured for thermographic imaging. One or more processors (28) receive (56) thermal image data from the magnetic resonance scanner and reconstruct at least one thermal image in which each voxel includes a measure of temperature change. The one or more processors identify (58) thermally abnormal voxels. A display (44) displays at least one reconstructed image with the identified abnormal thermal locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Feng Huang, Arne Reykowski, George Randall Duensing
  • Patent number: 9864031
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance properties of a sample containing fast relaxation components are determined using direct detection of the longitudinal component of the nuclear magnetization. Excitation and detection can be performed in different frequency ranges, which enables short dead time of measurements. In some implementations a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus can be configured for use in oil well logging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Arcady Reiderman
  • Patent number: 9835704
    Abstract: In an image creating device, an obtainer obtains the phase of a magnetic resonance signal generated from a target object upon application of a static magnetic field and a high-frequency magnetic field to the target object (step S102). A calculator calculates a change level of the obtained phase per a predetermined distance in a direction of the static magnetic field (step S103). A generator generates an image representing a positional distribution of a parameter depending on the calculated change level (step S106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: National University Corporation Hokkaido
    Inventors: Toru Yamamoto, Yuta Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9808176
    Abstract: In magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry, first and second magnetic resonance data that are acquired sequentially, from which a phase shift is determined between a measurement phase and a reference phase. In a first region of an examined person, the measurement phase is determined from the second magnetic resonance data and the reference phase is determined from the first magnetic resonance data. In a second region of the examined person, both the reference phase and measurement phase are determined from the second magnetic resonance data. Techniques for reference-based magnetic resonance thermometry and reference-free magnetic resonance thermometry can be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Patrick Gross
  • Patent number: 9726735
    Abstract: An NMR probe head (3) has a coil system (9) and a radial centering mechanism for a sample vial (4) having two centering devices spaced axially from each other to center the sample vial in the radial direction only. The first centering device (5) is disposed above the receiver coil system and at least one further centering device (6) is disposed axially above the coil system with an axial spacing (d) above the first centering device. The first and second centering devices restrict the radial scope for movement of the sample vial to such an extent that the sample vial cannot touch an endangered space (7) during the entire duration of transport of the sample vial to its measuring position, thereby precluding damage to the probe head components in the endangered space by the sample vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin AG
    Inventors: Daniel Schmidig, Danijela Al Adwan Stojilkovic, Dirk Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 9689942
    Abstract: NMR analyzers and associated methods, circuits and computer program products that allow NMR operation in fluctuating ambient temperature environments of at least +/?5 degrees F. in a relatively large operating temperature range, typically between about 60-85 degrees F.) with the ability to still generate accurate quantitative measurements using an electronically applied temperature sensitivity adjustment based on an a priori model of temperature sensitivity and a detected temperature proximate the NMR signal acquisition (e.g., scan). The clinical NMR analyzers can be remotely accessed to evaluate linearity and temperature compensation adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: LipoScience, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Morgan, Elias J. Jeyarajah
  • Patent number: 9594132
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (402, 500) includes magnetic field gradient coils (516), a gradient coil power supply (320, 424, 518), a processor (540), and a chiller (308, 526) for providing the coolant to the gradient coils. The magnetic resonance imaging system further includes a memory (546) for storing machine executable instructions (580, 582, 584, 586, 588, 590, 592). The instructions cause the processor to receive (100, 200) a pulse sequence (550), to generate (102, 202) the chiller control signals using the pulse sequence and a chiller thermal model (582) of the gradient coils and the coolant reservoir, and to send (104, 206) the chiller control signals to the chiller. The chiller control signals cause the chiller to halt chilling at least a portion of the time when the gradient coil power supply supplies current to the magnetic field gradient coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Marinus Johannes Adrianus Maria Van Helvoort
  • Patent number: 9594131
    Abstract: New method of cooling of MRI coil and resonators is disclosed and described. MRI coil designs showed in the disclosure are based solely on the use of copper tube elements filled with liquid nitrogen. Inside the conducting tubes at rf frequency there is no rf electric field, thus the liquid nitrogen presence inside such coils will not have any influence on MRI coil dielectric losses and on the resonant frequency modulation. Liquid nitrogen cooled coils, when in the coil noise regime, demonstrate 2-3 gain of signal-to-noise ratio comparing with room temperature equivalent coils. Methods for making and using both superconducting and normal metal MRI coils and/or arrays in such configurations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Jarek Wosik, Krzysztof Nesteruk, Lei Ming (Patrick) P. Xie (Leiming)
  • Patent number: 9494663
    Abstract: An NMR spectrometer and method in the following three steps are performed. (1) An external magnetic field is set to H0+?H (where 4H>0). When the detection coil made of the superconducting material is still in a normal state, a magnetic field stronger than the ultimate target static magnetic field strength H0 by ?H is applied to the detection coil. (2) The detection coil made of the superconducting material is cooled down to T0 lower than its critical temperature Tc to bring the coil into a superconducting state while the external magnetic field H0+?H is applied to the detection coil. (3) The external magnetic field is lowered from H0+?H to H0 such that the applied external magnetic field is decreased by ?H while the detection coil is kept in the superconducting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Tsuji, Fumio Hobo, Ryoji Tanaka, Hiroto Suematsu
  • Patent number: 9465090
    Abstract: An MRI method (10) to map the temperature of a bodily tissue using measurements of the tissue density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Atilla Peter Kiraly
  • Patent number: 9372247
    Abstract: An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) detection module (such as an NMR probe) mounted in a vacuum vessel permits a transmit/receive coil to be cooled efficiently and to be placed closer to a sample container. The NMR detection module includes a core module (detection module) (54) consisting of a refrigerant block (118) and a transmit/receive coil formed on the inner surface of a detection hole (130). A sleeve (cylindrical partition wall) (122) forming a part of the vacuum vessel is inserted in the detection hole (130). A sample tube (56) is inserted in the sleeve (122). The refrigerant block (118) is connected to a heat exchanger via a support member (82). Since it is not necessary to form a bobbin inside the transmit/receive coil, the distance between the coil and the sample can be set small. The coil is entirely surrounded by the refrigerant block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: Kyoto University, JEOL Resonance Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Takegoshi, Takashi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9335389
    Abstract: A cooled NMR detection probe including a detection coil and an internal structure (65) mounted in a vacuum vessel (58) includes a radiation shield assembly (68), a connecting member (74), and a heat exchanger (80). The internal structure (65) is secured to the vacuum vessel (58) by a holding member (66). If the internal structure shrinks during cooling, the position of an upper portion of the first heat exchanger (80) hardly varies, thus suppressing displacement of a core module (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: Kyoto University, JEOL Resonance Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyonori Takegoshi, Takashi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9271794
    Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient. By tracking a probe position within tissue through feedback, multiple data slices provided around the probe position can be processed to monitor treatment and view thermal data. The operator selects treatment area reference points with the assistance of noise masking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: MONTERIS MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Tyc, Salman Qureshi, Mark Andrew Grant, Luis Filipe Silva Fernandes, Daniel Prazeres Carreira, John Schellhorn
  • Patent number: 8989838
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering and controlling thermal therapy to a volume of diseased tissue. Specifically, the invention includes using thermal imaging and other inputs to determine an acoustic (ultrasonic) treatment regime employing interstitial ultrasound applicators to deliver a required therapeutic temperature or thermal dose to the affected region in a body or organ. Various aspects of the treatment that can be controlled include individual transducer element operating power and frequency, as well as the rate of cooling and rotation of the entire applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
    Inventors: Rajiv Chopra, Michael Bronskill, Mathieu Burtnyk
  • Patent number: 8862203
    Abstract: This disclosure employs temperature, magnetism and Curie point transition to construct and use catheters and other medical devices that can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Accordingly, this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, medical devices, means of constructing medical devices, and methods of imaging medical devices using magnetic resonance and other technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Weber
  • Patent number: 8847595
    Abstract: Temperature control device (20) for an NMR sample tube (22), wherein multiple interleaved, concentric flow channels (28, 31; 40, 41, 42; 50, 51) for temperature control fluid extending coaxially with respect to a cylindrical interior space (21) for holding the NMR sample tube are constituted around said interior space (21), wherein said temperature control device is constituted such that it is closed toward the interior space in an axial end region (26) and, an axial end region (23) at the opposite end thereto, open to the interior space for inserting the NMR sample tube into said interior space (21), wherein, in a counter flow region (GB), adjacent flow channels (28, 31; 40, 41, 42; 51) are interconnected through a fluid passage (34, 43, 44) at one axial end in such a way that the direction of a fluid flow in the flow channels of the counter flow region is reversed with respect to the corresponding adjacent flow channel in the counter flow region, wherein the outermost flow channel (28; 51) of the counter fl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin AG
    Inventors: Beat Grossniklaus, Federico Raffa, Markus Mayer, Dirk Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20140285197
    Abstract: In magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry, first and second magnetic resonance data that are acquired sequentially, from which a phase shift is determined between a measurement phase and a reference phase. In a first region of an examined person, the measurement phase is determined from the second magnetic resonance data and the reference phase is determined from the first magnetic resonance data. In a second region of the examined person, both the reference phase and measurement phase are determined from the second magnetic resonance data. Techniques for reference-based magnetic resonance thermometry and reference-free magnetic resonance thermometry can be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Gross
  • Patent number: 8810246
    Abstract: Proton resonance frequency shift thermometry may be improved by combining multibaseline and referenceless thermometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Insightec Ltd., The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: William A. Grissom, Kim Butts Pauly, Michael Lustig, Yoav Medan, Yoav Levy, Viola Rieke
  • Patent number: 8797032
    Abstract: The temperature of an MRI gradient magnetic field coil unit is measured at least two times. Shift data indicating a center magnetic resonance frequency of a hydrogen atom in response to variation of the gradient coil temperature is stored in advance. Estimated shift of the center frequency based on the measurement result is determined and the center frequency of an RF NMR excitation pulse is corrected based on the estimated shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Ookawa
  • Patent number: 8792961
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to create an MR magnitude image data set and a phase image data set of an examination subject, first echo signals in a first raw MR data set are detected after a first echo time TE1 and at least second echo signals in at least one second raw MR data set are detected after a second echo time TE2 that is longer than TE1, a magnitude image data set is generated on the basis of the first raw MR data set and the at least one second raw MR data set with averaging of the first and the at least one second raw MR data set, and the phase image data set is generated based on the phase information contained in the at least two raw MR data sets, with averaging of the respective phase information contained in the at least two raw MR data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Patric Gross, Joerg Roland