Electronic Circuit Elements Patents (Class 324/322)
  • Patent number: 12262510
    Abstract: Quantum processing circuitry cooling systems are provided. The systems can include a first chamber maintained at a first pressure; a second chamber maintained at a second pressure; a cooler within the first chamber; and quantum processing circuitry within the second chamber, the circuitry being thermally coupled to the cooler. Cooling systems are provided that can include: a cooler configured to generate and/or store cryofluid; a device thermally coupled to the cooler; and a plurality of thermal couplings between the cooler and the device, at least one of the thermal couplings being a first conduit system configured to convey cryofluid between the cooler and the device, wherein the first conduit system includes a first heat exchanger within the cooler and is configured to receive the cryofluid from the device, cool the cryofluid using the heat exchanger and provide cooler cryofluid to the device. Methods for cooling quantum processing circuitry are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Montana Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Josh Doherty
  • Patent number: 12232859
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a transmission coil, a reception coil, and first processing circuitry. The transmission coil radiates RF pulses to a subject. The reception coil receives magnetic resonance signals from the subject. The first processing circuitry controls the transmission coil and the reception coil. The reception coil includes a clock receptor, a phase synchronizer, and second processing circuitry. The clock receptor receives a clock signal wirelessly transmitted by the first processing circuitry. The phase synchronizer performs phase synchronization with the clock signal. The second processing circuitry controls the phase synchronizer. The second processing circuitry switches operating states of the phase synchronizer in accordance with a radiation timing of the RF pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sojuro Kato
  • Patent number: 12222412
    Abstract: A method for preparing magnetic resonance imaging of an object under examination is described. A plurality of representative pulse sequence segments are generated, each of which is associated with a reference gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of the representative pulse sequence segment, and the stimulation potential of which is representative of a group of partially different pulse sequences. For each of the representative pulse sequence segments, a maximum gradient slew rate is determined for which a permitted maximum value of the stimulation potential is not exceeded. One of the representative pulse sequence segments is determined and selected, for a measurement protocol to be planned for a magnetic resonance imaging to be performed, according to the gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of a pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Max Müller, Adam Kettinger, Mario Zeller, Gudrun Ruyters
  • Patent number: 12211647
    Abstract: A tri-axial magnetic field correction coil includes a first coil group and a second coil group with respect to an X-axis direction that passes through a clock transition space in which atoms are disposed. The first coil group is a Helmholtz-type coil composed in a point-symmetrical shape around the clock transition space. The second coil group is composed in a point-symmetrical shape around the clock transition space with respect to the X-axis direction, and is a non-Helmholtz-type coil that differs from the first coil group in terms of coil size, coil shape, or distance between coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: JEOL Ltd., RIKEN
    Inventors: Shigenori Tsuji, Masao Takamoto, Hidetoshi Katori
  • Patent number: 12153115
    Abstract: A device for remotely diagnosing an MRI coil comprises: a Diagnostic Interface Device (or DID); means for plugging the MRI coil into the DID when the MRI coil is not in use, said device adapted for: (a) measuring the status of certain key electrical conditions for the coil; (b) receiving a response back from the signals initially aimed at the coil in question; (c) processing those responses received; and (d) transferring the measured electronic status (using a specific code number for the coil) to a remote storage area on the internet. A method of use is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Inventors: Fahad Alraddadi, William Monski, Tobias Sun
  • Patent number: 12092713
    Abstract: A manifold for a gradient coil cooling manifold assembly of an MRI system includes a first main fluid passage defined by a first wall. The manifold also includes a first set of secondary fluid passages coupled to the first main fluid passage and defined by respective walls, wherein the first wall of the first main fluid passage and the respective walls of the first set of secondary fluid passages form barb connectors configured to couple to respective hoses. The manifold is formed as a single integral piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Charles Bradford Critcher, Robert Alan Irion
  • Patent number: 12089922
    Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes a scanner configured to apply an RF pulse to an object and processing circuity configured to: set a first pulse sequence in which acquisition of a first set of MR signals is started after a first delay time from application of a first excitation pulse, and a second pulse sequence in which acquisition of a second set of MR signals is started after a second delay time from application of a second excitation pulse, the second delay time being different from the first delay time; acquire first and second sets of MR signals by causing the scanner to apply the first and second pulse sequences to the object; generate a combined dataset by averaging a first dataset based on the first set of MR signals and a second dataset based on the second set of MR signals; and reconstruct an MR image based on the combined dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Hamanaga, Yuki Takai
  • Patent number: 12078696
    Abstract: A method for generating an image of an object with a magnetic resonance imaging (MM) system is presented. The method includes first performing a calibration scan of the object. The calibration scan is performed with a zero echo time (ZTE) radial sampling scheme to obtain calibration k-spaces for surface coil elements and a body coil of the MRI system. The calibration scan is performed in such a manner that the endpoints of calibration k-space lines in each calibration k-space follow a spiral path. A plurality of calibration parameters are then obtained from the plurality of calibration k-spaces. A second scan of the object is then performed to acquire the MR image data. The image of the object is then generated based on the plurality of calibration parameters and the MR image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoli Zhao, Kang Wang, Hua Li, Zhenghui Zhang, Florian Wiesinger, Ty A. Cashen, Rolf Schulte
  • Patent number: 12070623
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes procedures to automate quality assurance testing for radiotherapy equipment that includes MR-Linac devices that are agnostic as to the manufacturer and vendor of the equipment. The present disclosure includes a process for performing a validation procedure for the linear accelerator of the MR-Linac device. The present disclosure includes a process for analyzing quality of the images produced by the MR imaging device of the MR-Linac device. The present disclosure includes a process for combining performance of a validation procedure for the linear accelerator of the MR-Linac device and the analysis of the quality of the images produced by the MR imaging device of the MR-Linac device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Elekta LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel Letourneau, Elaine Conneely
  • Patent number: 12066509
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: a transmission circuit configured to apply a transmission pulse to an object; at least one radio frequency (RF) coil configured to include an active trap circuit provided with a PIN diode, and to receive a magnetic resonance signal from the object; a power supply circuit configured to apply a reverse bias voltage and a forward bias voltage to the PIN diode, and to apply multiple values of a forward current when the forward bias voltage is applied to the PIN diode; and a control circuit configured to control the power supply circuit in such a manner that the power supply circuit sets the forward current to the multiple values, depending on imaging conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 12066510
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving a magnetic resonance (MR) signal for imaging a patient. The MR signal includes a MR frequency. A radio frequency (RF) coil has first and second end portions. An impedance converter is in electrical communication with the RF coil. A preamplifier in electrical communication with the impedance converter, the preamplifier having a gain. At least one resonant circuit electrically connected to at least one end portion of the RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Coilone, LLC
    Inventors: Li Zeng, David Zheng
  • Patent number: 12032049
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus that includes a static magnetic field application part that applies a static magnetic field in a first direction to a measurement subject, a deflection magnetic field application part that applies a deflection magnetic field in a second direction different, to a portion of the measurement subject via a coil, a plurality of magnetic field detection elements respectively detect a magnitude of a magnetic field on the basis of an electromagnetic wave generated and propagated in a portion of the measurement subject due to an application of the deflection magnetic field, a calculation part that calculates an impedance distribution of at least a portion of a region where the electromagnetic wave is propagated inside the measurement subject, and an image information output part that generates and outputs an image showing information about inside the measurement subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ASAHI INTECC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Nebuya
  • Patent number: 12019130
    Abstract: Chemical-shift nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy involves measuring the effects of chemical bonds in a sample on the resonance frequencies of nuclear spins in the sample. Applying a magnetic field to the sample causes the sample nuclei to emit alternating current magnetic fields that can be detected with color centers, which can act as very sensitive magnetometers. Cryogenically cooling the sample increases the sample's polarization, which in turn enhances the NMR signal strength, making it possible to detect net nuclear spins for very small samples. Flash-heating the sample or subjecting it to a magic-angle-spinning magnetic field (instead of a static magnetic field) eliminates built-in magnetic field inhomogeneities, improving measurement sensitivity without degrading the sample polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Dirk Robert Englund
  • Patent number: 11959983
    Abstract: Body coil tuning control device having: DC-DC converter with input connected to a DC power supply of an MRI system and output connected to input of an LDO, output of the LDO connected to first connection of a first resistor group; a first opamp with non-inverting input connected to first connection of the first resistor group, inverting input connected to the second connection of the first resistor group, and output connected to gate of a MOSFET array; and a negative feedback circuit connected between the output and the non-inverting input of the first opamp. The MOSFET array has a drain connected to the second connection of the first resistor group and a source connected to the input of the body coil of the MRI system. After the output signal of the first opamp is input to the gate of the MOSFET array, the source outputs a constant preset current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
    Inventors: Hong Cheng, Stefan Pott, Franz Eiermann
  • Patent number: 11962304
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a pre-pulse switching system. The pre-pulsing switching system may include: a power source configured to provide a voltage greater than 100 V; a pre-pulse switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a pre-pulse having a pulse width of Tpp; and a main switch coupled with the power source and configured to provide a main pulse such that an output pulse comprises a single pulse with negligible ringing. The pre-pulse may be provided to a load by closing the pre-pulse switch while the main switch is open. The main pulse may be provided to the load by closing the main switch after a delay Tdelay after the pre-pulse switch has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EHT VENTURES LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Miller, James R. Prager, Ilia Slobodov, Julian F. Picard
  • Patent number: 11956014
    Abstract: A method for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic radiation beam, adapted to determine an orbital angular momentum of the received electromagnetic radiation beam, is described. There is further described a system for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic radiation beam, capable of performing the aforesaid method. A method for performing a telecommunication of signals modulated according to any modulation technique and grouped by means of orbital angular momentum multiplexing is further described. There is further described a telecommunication system capable of performing the aforesaid method for performing a telecommunication of modulated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO
    Inventors: Marco Potenza, Bruno Paroli, Mirko Siano
  • Patent number: 11940514
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data transmission may be provided. The system may at least include a data transmission module. The system may obtain MR signals from one or more RF coils. The system may generate, via a first portion of the data transmitting module, first data based on the MR signals. The system may generate, via a second portion of the data transmitting module, second data based on the first data. The second portion of the data transmitting module may connect to the first portion of the data transmitting module wirelessly. The system may further store the second data in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ling Ji
  • Patent number: 11923132
    Abstract: A solenoidal magnet section has a high-temperature-superconductor tape wound in a solenoidal manner in a main winding chamber of a coil former. Two joints, each from the HTS tape to a follow-on superconductor, are integrated in the magnet section. The terminal sections of the HTS tape and the associated follow-on superconductor are each wound onto the coil former and connected to one another in a laminar manner. The regions of the first and second joint are axially offset from each other and the main winding chamber. The magnet section occupies a radial range with limits less than 20% larger than the outer radius of the main HTS winding package and less than 20% smaller than the inner radius of the coil former in the region of the main winding chamber. A plurality of magnet sections can be inserted one inside the other to form a magnet coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Herzog, Patrik Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 11915084
    Abstract: An antenna device is provided as a near-field communication antenna device that is configured by arranging a plurality of loop antennas. Each loop antenna includes a plurality of parallel circuits each having a capacitor and a resistance element; and a plurality of looped conductors in a shape of a loop that is divided. The divided looped conductors are connected to each other via the parallel circuits, and the plurality of looped conductors and the plurality of parallel circuits form a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Murayama, Noboru Kato, Noriyuki Ueki, Yoichi Saito, Makoto Yasutake
  • Patent number: 11908616
    Abstract: A coil unit for inductively charging a vehicle is provided. The coil unit includes a coil, wherein the coil includes multiple windings of at least two electric lines. The electric lines are connected in parallel. Each of the electric lines has a respective winding part, in which the windings are formed, and an additional part, in which an additional inductor unit having a predefined electric inductance is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Krammer, Florian Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 11894126
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that provide a framework for performing advanced image stabilization. The disclosed framework can operate to capture imagery used and/or relied upon for the preoperative (pre-op), operative and/or postoperative (post-op) stages of a medical procedure. The framework can function by collecting and monitoring sensor data related to a device of a user (e.g., a patient). The sensor data can be analyzed, whereby the framework can determine the most opportune time to capture an image(s)—for example, a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and the like. Accordingly, the framework can leverage the determined capture opportunity to perform the image capture and storage of the image data and metadata, as well as perform a confidence score computation that enables validation or verification of the image's authenticity and quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: IX Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roh, Justin Esterberg, Adam Benson, Julie Benson, John Cronin, Seth Cronin, Michael John Baker
  • Patent number: 11885858
    Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method includes providing a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: a radio frequency receive system comprising a radio frequency receive coil, and a housing, wherein the housing comprises a permanent magnet for providing an inhomogeneous permanent gradient field, a radio frequency transmit system, and a single-sided gradient coil set. The method also includes placing the receive coil proximate a target subject; applying a sequence of chirped pulses via the transmit system; applying a multi-slice excitation along the inhomogeneous permanent gradient field; applying a plurality of gradient pulses via the gradient coil set orthogonal to the inhomogeneous permanent gradient field; acquiring a signal of the target subject via the receive system, wherein the signal comprises at least two chirped pulses; and forming a magnetic resonance image of the target subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Promaxo, Inc.
    Inventor: Muller Francis De Matos Gomes
  • Patent number: 11883148
    Abstract: A system and method for performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), or magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) at multiple resonant frequencies using a coil system. The coil system includes at least one conductive loop and a capacitor forming a radiofrequency (RF) resonant antenna and a tuning-matching circuit electrically connected to the RF resonant antenna to operate at multiple resonant frequencies across a desired operational range. The coil system also includes two legs electrically connecting the tuning-matching circuit to the RF resonant antenna and having a length selected to generate at least two selected resonant frequencies with a selected frequency difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Guangle Zhang, Wei Zhu, Xiao-Hong Zhu
  • Patent number: 11876549
    Abstract: In the present invention, provided are a magnetic resonance imaging system, a method for determining a SAR value of a magnetic resonance imaging system, and a computer-readable storage medium. The system comprises a radio-frequency transmitting coil, configured to receive radio-frequency power from a radio-frequency transmitting link and transmit radio-frequency power required for imaging to a scanned object. The system further comprises a reflection coefficient determining module, a resistance value determining module, and a SAR value determining module. The reflection coefficient determining module is configured to acquire a frequency response of a first input reflection coefficient of the radio-frequency transmitting coil when having no load and a frequency response of a second input reflection coefficient thereof when having the scanned object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Weiman Jiang, Fan Yang, Kun Wang
  • Patent number: 11774527
    Abstract: The receiving coil device includes one or a plurality of receiving coils configured to cover a head of a subject, a base portion on which the head of the subject is to be placed, a holder portion supported by the base portion, one of the receiving coils being fixed to the holder portion, a mechanism portion configured to bring the receiving coil fixed to the holder portion into close contact with a part of the head, and further, a detection unit configured to detect a physical quantity related to a displacement of the holder portion on the holder portion or the base portion. The physical quantity detected by the detection unit is sent to an MRI apparatus including the receiving coil device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Kohjiro Iwasawa, Yosuke Otake, Hideta Habara, Kazuyuki Kato, Toru Shirai, Yukio Kaneko, Hikaru Hanada
  • Patent number: 11747416
    Abstract: A preamplifier arrangement for an MRI system includes a preamplifier coupled to a loop of a multi-channel coil array of the MRI system, wherein the preamplifier and the loop are subject to potentially form an unstable system with oscillation at one or more peak frequencies. The preamplifier arrangement also includes an impedance matching network disposed between and coupled to the preamplifier and the loop. The impedance matching network is configured to generate a high blocking impedance. The preamplifier arrangement further includes an input network disposed between and coupled to the preamplifier and the loop. The input network is configured to provide an input to suppress gain at the one or more peak frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steven Stormont, Victor Taracila, Fraser John Laing Robb, Thomas Grafendorfer, Louis Jay Vannatta, Yun-Jeong Stickle
  • Patent number: 11693074
    Abstract: An electric circuit arrangement for energizing a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging facility includes a first circuit part, a second circuit part and a control facility. In an embodiment, the first circuit part is designed to generate a direct voltage as an DC link voltage from an alternating voltage and the second circuit part is designed as a current source fed by the DC link voltage. The second circuit part includes a down converter controllable by the control facility, a transformer switchable by the control facility and a rectifier. A primary current is generatable from the DC link voltage via the down converter. The primary current is feedable by a switching facility, switched by the control facility into a primary side of the transformer, and a secondary current for energizing the magnet is generatable via the rectifier connected to a secondary side of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Volker Model
  • Patent number: 11668778
    Abstract: A high-frequency magnetic field generating device includes two coils arranged with a predetermined gap in parallel with each other, the two coils (a) in between which electron spin resonance material is arranged or (b) arranged at one side from electron spin resonance material; a high-frequency power supply that generates microwave current that flows in the two coils; and a transmission line part connected to the two coils, that sets a current distribution so as to locate the two coils at positions other than a node of a stationary wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SUMIDA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yoshii, Masaki Saito, Norikazu Mizuochi, Kan Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11612336
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improved S/N measurements useful for electron paramagnetic resonance imaging in situ and in vivo, using high-isolation transmit/receive surface coils and temporally spaced pulses of RF energy (e.g., in some embodiments, a RF pi pulse) having an amplitude sufficient to rotate the magnetization by 180 degrees followed after varied delays, by a second RF pulse having an amplitude half that of the initial pulse to rotate the magnetization by, e.g., 90 degrees (a pi/2 pulse), to the plane orthogonal to the static field where it evolves for a short time. Then a third RF pi pulse sufficient to rotate the magnetization by, e.g., 180 degrees, forms an echo (in some embodiments, the second and third pulses are from the same signal as the first pulse but are phase shifted by 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees to reduce signal artifact), to image human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Howard J. Halpern, Boris Epel
  • Patent number: 11611230
    Abstract: A power supply facility for supplying a magnetic resonance facility with electrical power includes a control facility, a network connection to a power network, and an electrical energy store, such as a battery. The network connection is configured for an installed power level that is lower than a maximum power level that may be demanded by the magnetic resonance facility. The control facility is configured, in the event that a power demand of the magnetic resonance facility exceeds the installed power, to provide the power from the network connection and the energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Sören Grübel
  • Patent number: 11604239
    Abstract: A system for minimizing MGI in a superconducting magnet system of an MRI system includes a thermal shield having bi-metal material. The thermal shield is configured to be disposed about a cold mass of the superconducting magnet system, wherein the bi-metal material is configured to minimize MGI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Minfeng Xu, Anbo Wu, Yihe Hua, Mark Ernest Vermilyea, Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson
  • Patent number: 11588297
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for an optical component mounting system for supporting an optical component such as a laser. The mounting system comprises a first component comprising a first surface, a second component comprising a second surface facing the first surface, and adhesive between the first surface of the first component and the second surface of the second component, wherein the first component comprises at least three mounting pads extending from the first surface for contacting the second surface of the second component and providing direct support between the first component and the second component. The component comprising the mounting pads may be a lower mount, an upper mount such as an upper clamping mount, or a bonding pad or other component in the stack of components. A method of assembling the stack of components may comprise curing the adhesive at a temperature at or above an upper end of an expected temperature operating range for the optical component mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald T. Smith, Alireza Mirsepassi, Mark Harrison Farley
  • Patent number: 11573279
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a displacer for reducing the consumption of a cryogen used in a superconductive magnet device. The displacer may occupy some space within the cryogen storage cavity or limit the cryogen into a relatively small space surrounding a superconductive coil in the cryogen storage cavity. The displacer may also include a displacer cavity that may be vacuum or contain a cryogen or another substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianfeng Liu, Xingen Yu, Lijun Zou, Jin Qian, Yong Jiang, Qing Ni
  • Patent number: 11567153
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a flexible, lightweight and low-cost stretchable radio frequency (RF) coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one example, a RF coil assembly for a MRI system includes a loop portion comprising distributed capacitance conductor wires, a coupling electronics portion including a pre-amplifier; and a stretchable material to which the loop portion and coupling electronics portion are attached and/or enclosed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Steven Stormont, Scott Allen Lindsay, Dashen Chu, Ricardo M. Matias
  • Patent number: 11561271
    Abstract: Embodiments of a compact portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device are described which generally include a housing that provides a magnetic shield; an axisymmetric permanent magnet assembly in the housing and having a bore, a plurality of magnetic elements that together provide a well confined axisymmetric magnetization for generating a near-homogenous magnetic dipole field B0 directed along a longitudinal axis and providing a sample cavity for receiving a sample, and high magnetic permeability soft steel poles to improve field uniformity: a shimming assembly with coils disposed at the longitudinal axis for spatially correcting the near homogenous magnetic field B0; and a spectrometer having a control unit for measuring a metabolite in the sample by applying magnetic stimulus pulses to the sample, measuring free induction delay signals generated by an ensemble of hydrogen protons within the sample; and suppressing a water signal by using a dephasing gradient with frequency selective suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: 10250929 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: David O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11555875
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving a magnetic resonance (MR) signal for imaging a patient. The MR signal includes a MR frequency. A radio frequency (RF) coil has first and second end portions. An impedance converter is in electrical communication with the RF coil. A preamplifier in electrical communication with the impedance converter, the preamplifier having a gain. At least one resonant circuit electrically connected to at least one end portion of the RF coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Coilone, LLC
    Inventors: Li Zeng, David Zheng
  • Patent number: 11557893
    Abstract: A method of protecting a superconducting magnet from quenches, the superconducting magnet having at least one primary coil comprising high temperature superconductor, HTS, material. A secondary HTS tape is provided, the secondary HTS tape being in proximity to and electrically insulated from the primary coil, and being configured to cease superconducting at a lower temperature than the primary coil during operation of the magnet. A loss of superconductivity in the secondary HTS tape is detected. In response to said detection, energy is dumped from the primary coil into an external resistive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOKAMAK ENERGY LTD
    Inventors: John Ross, Paul Noonan
  • Patent number: 11551843
    Abstract: A superconductor bulk magnet magnetizing method providing a more homogenous trapped magnetic field includes: placing the bulk magnet inside a charger bore of an electrical charger magnet; placing a field correction unit inside a superconductor bore of the bulk magnet; applying an electrical current (I0) to the charger magnet, to generate an externally applied magnetic field, wherein a temperature Tbulk of the bulk magnet exceeds a bulk magnet critical temperature Tc; applying an auxiliary electrical current (I1, . . . ) to the field correction unit, thus generating an auxiliary magnetic field applied to the bulk magnet from within the superconductor bore, wherein Tbulk>Tc; lowering Tbulk below Tc; turning off the electrical current at the charger magnet, wherein Tbulk<Tc, and turning off the auxiliary electrical current at the field correction unit, wherein Tbulk<Tc; and removing the bulk magnet from the charger bore while Tbulk<Tc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BRUKER SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Joerg Hinderer, Stephen Alfred March, Franck Borgnolutti
  • Patent number: 11519991
    Abstract: A method of medical imaging including receiving k-space data that is divided into multiple k-space data groups, selecting one of the multiple k-space data groups as a reference k-space data group, and calculating spatial transform data for each of the multiple k-space data groups by inputting the multiple k-space data groups and the reference k-space data group into a transformation estimation module. The spatial transformation estimation module is configured for outputting spatial transform data descriptive of a spatial transform between a reference k-space data group and multiple k-space data groups in response to receiving the reference k-space data group and the multiple k-space data groups as input. The method further comprises reconstructing a corrected magnetic resonance image according to the magnetic resonance imaging protocol using the multiple k-space data groups and the spatial transform data for each of the multiple k-space data groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Elwin De Weerdt, Nicola Pezzotti
  • Patent number: 11519984
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method, a computer program, a data storage medium, a system, and a local-coil apparatus for a magnetic resonance tomography MRT unit having at least one receive coil configured to receive an MRT signal and a receive amplifier apparatus having at least one output amplifier unit and configured to amplify the received MRT signal in order to drive an analog-to-digital converter ADC. The at least one output amplifier unit is configured to amplify the MRT signal, below a signal-level threshold value, by a high gain, and, above the signal-level threshold value, by a low gain. The receive amplifier apparatus is configured to change a bias current of the at least one output amplifier unit according to a defined MRT signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Bollenbeck
  • Patent number: 11519983
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a receiving unit configured for acquiring MR signals from an examination object in a magnetic resonance device. The receiving unit may include a detector unit comprising a light source and a first optical detector, a sensor unit comprising a first optical magnetometer, a first optical waveguide connecting the sensor unit to the light source, and a second optical waveguide connecting the sensor unit to the first optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Silvia Bettina Arroyo Camejo, Stefan Popescu, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 11504075
    Abstract: Uptake of hypoxia-sensitive PET tracers is dependent on tissue transport properties, specifically, distribution volume. Variability in tissue transport properties reduces the sensitivity of static PET imaging to hypoxia. When tissue transport (vd) effects are substantial, correlations between the two methods of determining hypoxic fractions are greatly reduced—that is, trapping rates k3 are only modestly correlated with tumour-to-blood ratio (TBR). In other words, the usefulness of dynamic- and static-PET based hypoxia surrogates, trapping rate k3 and TBR, in determining hypoxic fractions is reduced in regions where diffusive equilibrium is achieved slowly. A process is provided for quantifying hypoxic fractions using a novel biomarker for hypoxia, hypoxia-sensitive tracer binding rate kb, based on PET imaging data. The same formalism can be applied to model the kinetics of non-binding CT and MT contrast agents, giving histopathological information about the imaged tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Edward Taylor, David A. Jaffray, Ivan Wai Tong Yeung
  • Patent number: 11422215
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gradient coil unit comprising at least one first conductor structure, which is configured to generate a magnetic field gradient in a first direction, and an eddy current compensating conductor structure, which is configured to compensate for a first magnetic field. The first magnetic field is generated by a current induced in the first conductor structure as a result of activation of a conductor structure comprised by the gradient coil unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Dietz
  • Patent number: 11419516
    Abstract: A table for an MRI system includes a top surface for supporting a patient being imaged and a motion sensor for sensing motion of the patient. The motion sensor is located below the top surface and includes a self-resonant spiral (SRS) coil and a coupling loop. The coupling loop generates a drive RF signal to excite the SRS coil to radiate a magnetic field having a predefined resonant frequency. The coupling loop also receives a reflection RF signal from the SRS coil. The motion sensor is located such that at least a portion of a torso of the patient being imaged is within the magnetic field. A controller is configured to detect patient motion based on the reflection RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Randall H. Buchwald, Louis Jay Vannatta
  • Patent number: 11422212
    Abstract: A MR wireless receiving coil device may include transmitters and receivers, the number of the receivers being equal to or greater than the number of the transmitters; each transmitter comprises: a coil group, an ADC group, two baseband low-pass filters, and an IQ modulation transmitter, wherein the coil group is connected to the ADC group, the ADC group is connected to the two baseband low-pass filters, the two baseband low-pass filters are connected to the IQ modulation transmitter, and the IQ modulation transmitter is provided with an antenna; each coil group contains one or more coils, and the maximum number of coils contained in each coil group is determined by available bandwidth, modulation scheme, and the bandwidth, sampling rate, and sampling accuracy of MR signal. The device and corresponding method advantageously allows an increase in the amount of magnetic resonance information transmitted per unit frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: JianMin Wang, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 11415648
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) local coil and an MR apparatus are provided. The MR local coil includes at least one antenna layer, at least one first layer, at least one second layer, and at least one third layer. In this structure, at least one MR antenna is arranged on the antenna layer. The at least one first layer is arranged between the at least one antenna layer and the at least one second layer, and the at least one second layer is arranged between the at least one first layer and the at least one third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Yvonne Candidus, Thomas Kundner, Christina Strauchmann, Martin Zigann, Stephan Zink
  • Patent number: 11408952
    Abstract: The present disclosure directs to a system and method for configuring a pulse sequence in MRI. The method may include obtaining a preliminary gradient pulse configuration, wherein the preliminary gradient pulse configuration relates to a portion of a pulse sequence to be implemented by one or more coils of an MR scanner, the pulse sequence including a plurality of gradient pulses. The method may also include determining a global peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) value of the preliminary gradient pulse configuration according to a PNS model. The method may further include determining a target gradient pulse configuration based at least in part on the preliminary gradient pulse configuration, the global PNS value, and a PNS threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaomao Gong
  • Patent number: 11378635
    Abstract: The present disclosure reports on a method to first determine the required electromagnetic stream function, and then iterate on the contouring of the stream function to optimize the force, torque, shielding, and/or mutual inductance of the design after-the-fact without compromising the electromagnetic performance and an electromagnetic coil manufacture according to the method. These parameters are sensitive to the precise positioning of the discrete wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Geron André Bindseil, Chad Tyler Harris, Ian Robert Oliphant Connell
  • Patent number: 11374646
    Abstract: Systems and devices are provided in which an RF wireless bridge is employed to facilitate indirect transmission of communication signals between external devices located outside of an electromagnetically shielding enclosure within internal devices located within the enclosure, via the intermediate transmission of RF waves through an RF attenuating window forming a portion of the enclosure. The wireless bridge is formed from a first RF communication device located within the electromagnetically shielding enclosure, and a second RF communication device located outside of the enclosure, where the two RF communication devices are positioned with sufficient proximity such that the wireless bridge facilitates indirect communication through the RF attenuating window despite attenuation of RF energy by the RF attenuating window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: INNOVERE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevan James Thompson Anderson, Donald Bruce Plewes, Garry Ka Chun Liu, Lynsie Alexandra Marie Thomason
  • Patent number: 11360169
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) receive device comprises a coil or coil array including at least one radiofrequency (RF) coil element wherein each RF coil element comprises a coil and a preamplifier connected to amplify an output of the RF coil element to generate an amplified RF signal. The MR receive device further includes an RF-over-Fiber module comprising an optical fiber, a photonic device optically coupled to send an optical signal into the optical fiber, and an RF modulator connected to modulate the optical signal by an MR signal comprising the amplified RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Timothy Ortiz, Tracy Allyn Wynn, Olli Tapio Friman