Magnetic Resonance Imaging Or Spectroscopy Patents (Class 600/410)
  • Patent number: 11150314
    Abstract: Automated setting techniques for MR imaging with ultra-short echo times in a region to be examined are described. With the method protocol parameter values for an MR imaging method are determined. The protocol parameters comprise a predetermined imaging resolution. Optimized values for echo time and bandwidth are also determined based on an image signal simulation, which is based on the determined protocol parameters. The signal to noise ratio and point spread function are used as optimization criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 11145974
    Abstract: In a computerized method to reduce noise in phased-array signals from a set of receivers at different locations, time-series are received from the receivers, which time-series form phased-array signals. The time-series are ordered based on the different locations of the receivers and spatially phased series are obtained from the ordered time-series. Each of the spatially phased series obtained includes a series of signal values that are spatially phased. A noise component is identified in each of the spatially phased series obtained and removed from the spatially phased series to obtain denoised series. Related receiver systems and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nezihe Merve Guerel, Paul T. Hurley, Matthieu Martin Jean-Andre Simeoni
  • Patent number: 11143728
    Abstract: To provide an MRI apparatus that acquires a plurality of contrast images including an FLAIR image in the shortest imaging time. An imaging controller of the MRI apparatus includes, as a prescribed pulse sequence, an IR (inversion recovery) sequence that includes application of an inversion pulse and a signal acquisition sequence to collect a signal after an inversion time has elapsed from the application of the inversion pulse, and acquires images in a first slice group, and an imaging sequence that is inserted into an inversion pulse of the IR sequence at a single time and an inversion pulse of the IR sequence at the next time, and acquires images in a second slice group different from the first slice group that are images having different contrasts from that of the IR sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Amemiya, Suguru Yokosawa, Yo Taniguchi, Yoru Shirai
  • Patent number: 11141078
    Abstract: Accuracy degradation due to a signal loss is reduced, and susceptibility is calculated with high accuracy where, by using an MRI, at least one echo is acquired where spatial magnetic field inhomogeneity is reflected, and a complex image is calculated from the acquired echo. Three masks are calculated from the calculated complex image; a low-signal region mask representing a low signal region, a first high-signal region mask representing a high signal and high fat content region, and a second high-signal region mask representing a high signal and low fat content region. In calculating a susceptibility image from a frequency image or a magnetic field image generated from the complex image, the susceptibility image is obtained under the constraint that a region defined by the low-signal region is set as a background and the susceptibility of the region defined by the second high-signal region mask is set to a specific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Satoh, Toru Shirai, Yo Taniguchi, Yoshitaka Bito, Hisaaki Ochi, Yoshihisa Sotome
  • Patent number: 11145119
    Abstract: A system and method of generating a graphical representation of a network of a subject human brain. The method comprises receiving, via a user interface, a selection of the network of the subject brain; determining, based on an MRI image of the subject brain and one or more identifiers associated with the selection, one or more parcellations of the subject brain (405); determining, using three-dimensional coordinates associated with each parcellation, corresponding tracts in a diffusion tensor image of the brain (425); and generating a graphical representation of the selected network (430), the graphical representation including at least one of (i) one or more surfaces representing the one or more parcellations, each surface generated using the coordinates, and (ii) the determined tracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Omniscient Neurotechnology Pty Limited
    Inventors: Michael Edward Sughrue, Stephane Philippe Doyen
  • Patent number: 11138746
    Abstract: A diagnostic support system includes a spinal cord/spinal nerve evoked magnetic field data acquisition device configured to acquire spinal cord/spinal nerve evoked magnetic field data and a medical image information acquisition device configured to acquire first medical image information having each pixel associated with a corresponding pixel of visualized data of the spinal cord/spinal nerve evoked magnetic field data. The diagnostic support system superimposes the visualized data of the spinal cord/spinal nerve evoked magnetic field data on second medical image information based on information included in the first medical image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Akira Kinoshita, Shigenori Kawabata, Masahiro Takada, Kazuya Niyagawa
  • Patent number: 11129543
    Abstract: A process for more sensitive characterization of tissue composition for generating a quantitative MRI (qMRI) map and corresponding delta analysis. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), resulting in the depletion of hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) located in the nucleus pulposus (NP), can lead to debilitating neck and back pain. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a promising means of IVD assessment due to the correlation between GAG content and MRI relaxation values. T1 and T2 relaxation data were obtained from healthy cervical IVDs, and relaxation data was modeled using both conventional and stretched exponential (SE) decays. Normalized histograms of the resultant quantitative MRI (qMRI) maps were fit with stable distributions. SE models fit relaxation behavior with lower error compared to monoexponential models, indicating anomalous relaxation behavior in healthy IVDs. SE model parameters T1 and T1 increased with IVD segment, while conventional monoexponential measures did not vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Corey P. Neu, Robert L. Wilson, David Reiter
  • Patent number: 11129562
    Abstract: A surgical guidance system has two cameras to provide stereo image stream of a surgical field; and a stereo viewer. The system has a 3D surface extraction module that generates a first 3D model of the surgical field from the stereo image streams; a registration module for co-registering annotating data with the first 3D model; and a stereo image enhancer for graphically overlaying at least part of the annotating data onto the stereo image stream to form an enhanced stereo image stream for display, where the enhanced stereo stream enhances a surgeon's perception of the surgical field. The registration module has an alignment refiner to adjust registration of the annotating data with the 3D model based upon matching of features within the 3D model and features within the annotating data; and in an embodiment, a deformation modeler to deform the annotating data based upon a determined tissue deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
    Inventors: David W. Roberts, Keith D. Paulsen, Alexander Hartov, Songbai Ji, Xiaoyao Fan
  • Patent number: 11127220
    Abstract: A method for virtually configuring a piece of equipment comprises providing an augmented reality system having a computer unit and at least one sensor unit, detecting a sensor dataset associated with a physical environment by means of the at least one sensor unit, determining a virtual environment based on the sensor dataset by means of the computer unit, and determining a virtual arrangement of at least one virtual and/or physical equipment element relative to the virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Schmelig, Stefan Schlack
  • Patent number: 11109830
    Abstract: A method for determining a respiratory condition or for assessing the efficacy of a treatment for a respiratory condition or for optimizing a treatment protocol for a respiratory condition in a subject comprising the steps of: a) obtaining image data concerning two or more three-dimensional images of the subject's respiratory system, which images have been previously acquired during an assessment period; b) calculating a specific three-dimensional structural model of the subject's respiratory system for each of the two or more three-dimensional images of step a); c) comparing the three-dimensional structural models of step b) with each other to determine a respiratory condition or to assess the efficacy of a treatment for a respiratory condition or to optimize a treatment protocol for a respiratory condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Jan De Backer
  • Patent number: 11090102
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for diagnosing and treating disorders of the lung are provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, a method comprises obtaining diagnostic information relating to a patient's lungs, compiling a list of potential treatment plans for lung volume reduction in the first and second lungs, excluding treatment plans from the list of potential treatment plans that propose treatment of a lung segment that falls within a segment exclusion rule, and identifying at least one preferred treatment plan from the list of potential treatment plans that targets sufficiently diseased lung segments while also targeting a preferred combined volume of the first and second lungs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Uptake Medical Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lawrence Barry, Erik Henne, Avina Gupta, Sourish Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 11085980
    Abstract: In one aspect, in accordance with one embodiment, a method includes acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data corresponding to bone tissue in an area of interest of a subject that is heated from the application of localized energy. The acquiring includes applying a three-dimensional (3D) ultra-short echo time (UTE) spiral acquisition sequence. The method also includes detecting, from the acquired magnetic resonance data, a change in MR response signal due to a change in at least one of relaxation rate and magnetization density caused by heating of the bone tissue; and determining, based at least in part on the change in the MR response signal, that the temperature of the bone tissue has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: University of Virginia Patent Foundation, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Samuel W. Fielden, John P. Mugler, III, G. Wilson Miller, IV, Kim Butts Pauly, Craig H. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11085987
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to enabling high-accuracy Nyquist ghost correction without using a reference image. After at least one of a plurality of images for use in diagnosis is used to perform low-order phase correction without causing aliasing of an image, a 2D phase map including remaining high-order phase errors and phase errors in a phase encode direction is calculated. The low-order phase correction is performed on a pair of pieces of data for image obtained by inverting a readout gradient magnetic field as image data for use in 2D phase map calculation, and positive-polarity/negative-polarity errors of the readout gradient magnetic field are calculated with odd lines and even lines of the pair of pieces of data for image rearranged. In the case of DWI imaging, an image with b-value=0 can be used for 2D phase map calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Sakaguchi, Syouichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 11087877
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining anomalous brain data. One of the methods includes obtaining brain data characterizing brain activity of a patient; for each of a plurality of pairs of parcellations comprising a first parcellation and a second parcellation, processing the brain data to generate a correlation between the brain activity of the first and second parcellations; obtaining second connectivity data that characterizes, for each of the plurality of pairs of parcellations, a normal range of correlations between the brain activity of the first and second parcellations; identifying one or more of the plurality of pairs of parcellations for which the correlation between brain activity of the first and second parcellations is outside of the corresponding normal range of correlations; and providing data characterizing the one or more identified pairs of parcellations for display to a user on a graphical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Omniscient Neurotechnology Pty Limited
    Inventors: Michael Edward Sughrue, Stephane Philippe Doyen, Peter James Nicholas
  • Patent number: 11080816
    Abstract: Methods for measuring and registering positions and directions in image space with that in world space includes: providing an assembly with a tracking tool; the assembly including positional and/or directional objects with positions and available directions measured according to the tracking tool's frame with a measuring piece having a measuring surface for measuring without prior calibration with a measuring tracking tool in a tracking system; placing the assembly on a body and perform scanning; placing a relative tracking tool at the body; in registering time, recording the data for both the relative tracking tool and the tracking tool attached to the assembly; placing a tracking tool on an instrument; in post-registering time, recording both data of the tracking tool attached on the instrument and data of the relative tracking tool; computing converted positions and/or available directions of the tracking tool attached on the instrument in the image space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Ying Ji, Jiansong Ji
  • Patent number: 11069741
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layer stack containing an electric field-modulated magnetic transition layer and a ferroelectric insulator layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, The electric field-modulated magnetic transition layer includes a non-metallic magnetic material having a ferromagnetic state and a non-ferromagnetic state with a state transition therebetween that depends on an external electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bhagwati Prasad, Alan Kalitsov
  • Patent number: 11055565
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for the identification and characterization of perivascular spaces in the cerebral vasculature using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The disclosed methods allow for automated and unbiased quantification of enlarged perivascular space (ePVS) in a subject, and thus can provide a substantial improvement over manual grading methods used in the art. An example method includes receiving an MRI dataset including voxels having intensity values, identifying a set of candidate voxels within the MRI dataset based on the intensity values; grouping the set of candidate voxels into a set of first clusters; filtering the set of first clusters to generate a set of second clusters; and filtering the set of second clusters based on a morphologic constraint, thereby identifying an enlarged perivascular space in the MRI dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Oregon Health & Science University
    Inventors: Erin L. Boespflug, David Lahna, Daniel Schwartz, Lisa C Silbert
  • Patent number: 11055849
    Abstract: A method (400) including: determining (702) a registration function [705, Niirf(T1)] for the particular brain in a coordinate space, determining (706) a registered atlas [708, Ard(T1)] from the registration function and an HCP-MMP1 Atlas (102) containing a standard parcellation scheme, performing (310, 619) diffusion tractography to determine a set [621, DTIp(DTI)] of brain tractography images of the particular brain, for a voxel in a particular parcellation in the registered atlas, determining (1105, 1120) voxel level tractography vectors [1123, Vje, Vjn] showing connectivity of the voxel with voxels in other parcellations, classifying (1124) the voxel based on the probability of the voxel being part of the particular parcellation, and repeating (413) the determining of the voxel level tractography vectors and the classifying of the voxels for parcellations of the HCP-MMP1 Atlas to form a personalised brain atlas [1131, PBs Atlas] containing an adjusted parcellation scheme reflecting the particular brain (Bb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Omniscient Neurotechnology Pty Limited
    Inventors: Michael Edward Sughrue, Stephane Philippe Doyen, Charles Teo
  • Patent number: 11047737
    Abstract: A temporal-spectral multiplexing sensor for simultaneous or near simultaneous spatial-temporal-spectral analysis of an incoming optical radiation field. A spectral encoder produces a time series of spectrally encoded optical images at a high sampling rate. A series of full panchromatic spectrally encoded optical images are collected at a rate similar to the sampling rate. A detector records at least one spatial region of the spectrally encoded optical image. A processor is configured to process two series of spectrally encoded optical images to produce an artifact-free spectral image. The processing includes using the panchromatic images to normalize the spectrally encoded images, and decoding the normalized encoded images to produce high fidelity spectral signatures, free of temporal artifacts due to fluctuations at frequencies slower than the sampling rate for polychromatic images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Spectral Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Shroll, Pajo Vujkovic-Cvijin, Jamine Lee, Neil Goldstein, Marsha Fox, Michael Kogan
  • Patent number: 11047935
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating complex transmit field B1+ a transmit coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system in both k-space and image domains are described herein. Estimating complex RF field B1+ in the k-space domain includes acquiring complex data in a k-space domain, estimating a complex B1+ map in the k-space domain of a transmit coil and storing the complex B1+ map. The complex B1+ map can be estimated based on the complex images. Estimating complex transmit field B1+ in the image domain includes acquiring at least two complex images in a k-space domain, transforming the complex images into an image domain, estimating a complex B1+ map in the image domain of a transmit coil, and storing the complex B1+ map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Jinghua Wang, Yu Ding
  • Patent number: 11041926
    Abstract: A method of Dixon-type MR imaging includes subjecting the object (10) to a first imaging sequence (31) including a series of refocusing RF pulses. A single echo signal is generated in the time interval between two consecutive refocusing RF pulses. The first echo signals from the object (10) are acquired at a first receive bandwidth using unipolar readout magnetic field gradients. The object (10) is further subject to a second imaging sequence (32), which includes a series of refocusing RF pulses. A pair of second echo signals is generated in each time interval between two consecutive refocusing RF pulses. The pairs of second echo signals from the object (10) are acquired at a second receive bandwidth using bipolar readout magnetic field gradients. The second receive bandwidth is higher than the first receive bandwidth. Signal contributions from water protons and fat protons are separated and an MR image is reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Holger Eggers
  • Patent number: 11043296
    Abstract: A method for volumetric segmentation in a plurality of planar medical images includes, receiving, at an electronic processor, the plurality of planar medical images. A boundary of a candidate structure in the plurality of medical images is generated using a segmentation model. A first planar medical image from the plurality of planar medical images is displayed on a display. A user input is received using a user interface indicating a region in the first planar medical image. A first planar contour of the candidate structure is generated. The region is compared to the boundary. Responsive to the region being at least partially within the boundary, the first planar medical image is re-displayed on the display showing the first planar contour of the structure, and a finding record for the candidate structure including the boundary is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HealthMyne, Inc.
    Inventors: David Gering, Aaron Avery, Jeffrey Hoffman, Brett Young-Moxon, Lisa Kohli, Haley Knapp, Roger Chylla, Linda Peitzman
  • Patent number: 11033201
    Abstract: A method uses multiple patches fixed to a surface of a body, the patches including respective electrodes in contact with the surface, and at least one of the patches configured to output a signal in response to a magnetic field applied to the body. Initially, the signal is processed to compute first magnetic and first electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. Subsequently, the signal is processed to compute second magnetic and second electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. A first relation is computed between the first magnetic and electrical locations, and a second relation is computed between the second magnetic and electrical locations. When there is a difference between the first and the second relations, a magnetic location correction is computed responsively to the difference, and the correction is applied in tracking a position of a magnetic tracking sensor inside the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: Doron Moshe Ludwin, Eitan Peri, Aharon Turgeman, Avigdor Rosenberg, Menachem Schechter
  • Patent number: 11026606
    Abstract: Methods for data acquisition and processing of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to obtain the oxygen saturation (O2sat) of blood using a relationship between transverse relaxation time (T2) of blood and oxygen saturation. The method includes obtaining multiple images at various T2 preparation times. Next, non-linear curve fitting may be used to solve for arterial or venous O2sat. The disclosure provides a calibration-free method for accurate quantitative assessment of blood in the heart and deep vessels, even in locations having limited accessibility with other diagnostic techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Orlando P. Simonetti, Rizwan Ahmad, Lee C. Potter, Juliet Jaison Varghese
  • Patent number: 11029379
    Abstract: A bridge member containing MR responsive material is provided in an open space between body parts to establish a correspondence between the body parts. The MR responsive material generates magnetic resonance signals in response the RF excitation, so that between the separate body parts via the bridge member magnetic resonance signal are obtained from positions between which there is at most a limited spatial variation of the main magnetic field, so that phase ambiguities between the signals from these positions are avoided. Thus, chemical shift separation, notably water-fat separation though a region-of-interest containing several (both) body parts may rely on a smoothness condition imposed on the spatial distribution of the main magnetic field. This avoids artefacts, such as water-fat swaps when separating water and fat contributions in the reconstructed magnetic resonance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Elwin De Weerdt
  • Patent number: 11024031
    Abstract: A diagnostic system, method, and a computer-readable storage medium for determining a severity of a gastric condition, such as gastric cancer, in a subject are disclosed. The diagnostic system includes a processor that can obtain various images of a stomach of the subject including wavelength images and generate difference images from the wavelength images. The processor can compare the subject images with reference images representative of different severity levels of gastric cancer, or can input the subject images into a learned model trained using the reference images stored in the database to extract a feature pattern corresponding to a severity of gastric cancer to diagnose the subject as having a particular severity level of gastric cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nozaki, Wataru Hashimoto, Takashi Suzuki, Mitsunori Kubo, Yusuke Kuwa, Yuji Sakamoto, Mariko Otagiri, Naoki Yoshida, Yoji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11015990
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide robust capacitive grip sensors that may be used in a variety of applications, including single-handed and double-handed grips, such as but not limited to barbells. Apparatus as disclosed herein and efficiently measure the presence of a human grip without requiring deformation of a gripped surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Bradley Davis
  • Patent number: 11013561
    Abstract: A system for navigating a medical device is provided. In one embodiment, a magnetic field generator assembly generates a magnetic field. Position sensors on the medical device, on an imaging system and on the body generate signals indicative of the positions within the magnetic field. The generator assembly and reference sensors are arranged such that a correlation exists between them and the positions of the body and of a radiation emitter and a radiation detector of the imaging system. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines, responsive to signals generated by the sensors, a position of the medical device, a position of one of the radiation emitter and detector and a distance between the emitter and detector. Using this information, the ECU can, for example, register images from the imaging system in a coordinate system and superimpose an image of the device on the image from the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical International Holding S.à r.l.
    Inventors: Uzi Eichler, Alon Izmirli, Yuval Vaknin, Adi Raveh
  • Patent number: 11006853
    Abstract: A method uses patches fixed to a surface of a body, the patches including respective electrodes in contact with the surface, and at least one of the patches configured to output a signal in response to a magnetic field applied to the body. Initially, the signal is processed to compute first magnetic locations and first electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. Subsequently, the signal is processed to compute second magnetic locations and second electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. A first relation is computed between the first magnetic and the first electrical locations, a second relation is computed between the second magnetic and the second electrical locations, and upon detecting a difference between the second and the first relations, a magnetic location correction is computed and then applied to track a position of a magnetic sensor inside the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: Doron Moshe Ludwin, Eitan Peri, Eliahu Zino, Meir Bar-Tal, Shaul Haim Raz
  • Patent number: 11002677
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting material within a sample includes a light emitting unit for directing at least one light beam through the sample. The at least one light beam has a unique signature combination associated therewith responsive to passing through the sample. A Raman spectroscopic unit receives the at least one light beam that has passed through the sample and performs a Raman spectroscopic analysis to detect a first signature associated with the sample. An infrared spectroscopic unit receives the at least one light beam that has passed through the sample and performs an infrared spectroscopic analysis to detect a second signature associated with the sample. A database includes a plurality of unique combinations of the first signature and the second signature. Each of the plurality of unique combinations of the first signature and the second signature are associated with a particular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NXGEN PARTNERS IP, LLC
    Inventor: Solyman Ashrafi
  • Patent number: 11002815
    Abstract: A method for reducing N/2 ghost or Nyquist ghost in magnetic resonance (MR) images is provided The method includes acquiring k-space dataset for an object using an echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence, dividing the k-space dataset into first partial k-space subset data related to positive echoes and second partial k-space subset data related to negative echoes, obtaining third partial k-space subset data that is N/2 or Nyquist ghost-free subset data, respectively registering the first partial k-space subset data and the second partial k-space subset data to a first portion of the third partial k-space subset data corresponding to positive echoes and a second portion of the third partial k-space subset data corresponding to negative echoes, combining the registered first partial k-space subset data and the registered second partial k-space subset data to form full k-space dataset, and reconstructing an image for the object based on the full k-space dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
    Inventor: Jinghua Wang
  • Patent number: 11000342
    Abstract: Hearing protection combined with head motion tracking for magnetic resonance (MR) procedures is provided. Trackable earplugs include an MR-visible sample combined with a passive resonant circuit. The trackable earplugs act as wireless markers for the MR system. A third wireless MR marker can be disposed on the forehead of the subject to facilitate motion tracking in six degrees of freedom (i.e., 3 rotations, 3 translations). Preferably, the coordinate system for motion tracking is rotated relative to standard MR coordinates to ensure distinct tracking peaks from the two trackable earplugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Roland Bammer, Julian Maclaren, Murat Aksoy
  • Patent number: 10993678
    Abstract: A system for providing visual three dimensional assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method provide visual assistance to a user during a medical procedure involving a soft organ. The system and method utilize a processor for generating an image of the soft organ, a surgical instrument tracker for tracking a surgical instrument during the medical procedure, and a display in communication with the processor and the surgical instrument tracker for visually displaying in three dimensions, the image of the soft organ and the surgical instrument in relation to the soft organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: EDDA TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL SOLUTIONS (SUZHOU) LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Liang, Li Fan, Jian-Zhong Qian, Xiaolan Zeng, Xin Dou, Changbo Yang, Guo-Qing Wei
  • Patent number: 10989774
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vertically retractable magnet field assembly for a Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) system. The assembly can move from an upward raised position to a downward retracted position, and vice versa. The assembly includes a magnet configured with a bore for imaging a body portion of a subject. The bore defines an inner surface of the magnet and extends along a longitudinal axis of the magnet. The magnet includes at least one flux generating element disposed within the magnet and oriented such that each of the at least one flux generating element surrounds the bore. Each of the at least one flux generating element is configured to generate a magnetic field for magnetizing the body portion positioned within the bore to generate a visual representation of an anatomy of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sigwa Company, LLC
    Inventor: Fengling Zhang
  • Patent number: 10991099
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring a representative value of a duct in vivo, the method including: selecting, by selection unit, at least one duct and sampling measurement sites in each duct; measuring, by creation unit, at least one real cross-section image being sampled to obtain measurement values and creating a measurement cross-section image; in comparing, by comparison-decision unit, the measurement cross-section image with the real cross-section image and evaluating validity of measurement values whether to accept the measurement values as data; and computing, by computation unit, a representative value out of the measurement values accepted as data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CORELINE SOFT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyungi Seo, Donghoon Yu, Jaeyoun Yi, Joon Beom Seo, Nam Kug Kim
  • Patent number: 10986987
    Abstract: A processor device and an endoscope system capable of calculating an optimal index value in accordance with a diagnosis purpose is provided. A processor device includes an image acquisition unit, a diagnosis purpose acquisition unit, an index value storage unit, an index value selection unit, and an index value calculation unit. The image acquisition unit acquires an endoscope image obtained by an endoscope image-capturing an observation object. The diagnosis purpose acquisition unit acquires a diagnosis purpose. The index value storage unit stores correspondence between the diagnosis purpose and a plurality of index values relating to a structure of the observation object. The index value selection unit refers to the index value storage unit and selects the index value that is used for the acquired diagnosis purpose. The index value calculation unit uses the endoscope image and calculates the selected index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Aoyama, Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10984241
    Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a storage circuitry and processing circuitry. The storage circuitry is configured to store therein workflow information indicating a plurality of procedures related to a preparation for an imaging process. The processing circuitry is configured to analyze an image obtained by a camera. The processing circuitry is configured to identify which of the plurality of procedures has been performed on the basis of the workflow information and a result of the analysis performed on the image and to cause an informing device to provide information about one or more of the procedures corresponding to a result of the identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miyuki Ota, Mitsuo Takagi, Sadanori Tomiha, Satoshi Imai, Masahiro Fukushima, Manabu Ishii, Shinji Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10976396
    Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for evaluating the extent of brain-skull tethering, which may also be referred to as loss of trabecular reserve, in subjects using magnetic resonance elastography (“MRE”). The present disclosure describes a method for assessing progressive damage to arachnoid space (“SAS”) trabeculae. The method generally includes measuring the relative movement between the brain and the skull using MRE. As one example, an MRE-based method named slip interface imaging (“SII”) can be implemented. By measuring trabecular reserve in subjects who have a history of prior head trauma, the susceptibility of a given subject to future injury can be assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Ziying Yin, Richard Ehman, Yi Sui, John Huston, III, Meng Yin
  • Patent number: 10962615
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance device is disclosed including a patient receiving zone, at least one diffusion gradient coil, at least one magnet for generating a basic magnetic field, and a plurality of gradient coils for generating gradient fields overlaying the basic magnetic field. The basic magnetic field extends substantially along a first direction in the patient receiving zone and a first gradient of a first gradient field runs in the first direction and at least one further gradient of a further gradient field runs in a further direction orthogonal to the first direction. The diffusion gradient coil has at least one conductor loop running in one plane or a plurality of conductor loops each running in parallel planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Dietz
  • Patent number: 10962617
    Abstract: Methods for fast magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) using a combination of outer volume suppression (“OVS”) and accelerated imaging, which may include simultaneous multislice (“SMS”) imaging, data acquisitions amenable to compressed sensing reconstructions, or combinations thereof. The methods described here do not introduce fold-over artifacts that are otherwise common to reduced field-of-view (“FOV”) techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Sebastian Weingartner, Steen Moeller, Mehmet Akcakaya
  • Patent number: 10956827
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method of designing a radiofrequency or broadband pulse sequence. The method can comprise a qubit (e.g., nuclear spin, photon, electron, atomic spin, dot spin) and a harmonic oscillator wherein a flip angle is controlled by steering a spring between specific states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventor: Jr-Shin Li
  • Patent number: 10950011
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a distribution map of susceptibility property of an object are provided. The method may include one or more of the following operations. A phase diagram corresponding to a magnetic resonance (MR) signal of the object may be obtained. A preliminary field map may be determined based on the phase diagram. Preliminary error limiting information associated with the preliminary field map may be obtained. A preliminary distribution map of susceptibility property of the object may be determined based on the preliminary field map and the preliminary error limiting information. An iteration process including at least one iteration may be performed to determine a target distribution map of susceptibility property of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yongquan Ye
  • Patent number: 10935614
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices and systems that support wireless communication between wireless communication devices residing within, and external to, a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, devices and systems are provided for transmitting wireless signals through a waveguide port of a Faraday cage for wireless signals having frequencies below the cutoff frequency of the waveguide port, where a portion of the waveguide port is compromised by the presence of a conductor, thereby permitting the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are employed to adapt a magnetic resonance imaging system for communications between a scanner room and a control room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: INNOVERE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevan Anderson, Garry Liu
  • Patent number: 10912470
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing blood flow in a subject's brain is provided. In some aspects, the method includes analyzing fMRI data to identify signals related to blood flow, and selecting a zero time lag seed regressor using the identified signals. The method also includes correlating the selected seed regressor to identify a subset of the fMRI data that correlates with the seed regressor and is offset in time, combining the subset of the data to determine a time-delayed regressor, and performing repetitions to obtain a number of time-delayed regressors, where for each repetition, the seed regressor is adjusted using a previous time-delayed regressor. The method further includes analyzing the data using the time-delayed regressors to determine blood delivery from vessels across the brain, and generating a report. In some aspects, a second recursive procedure may be performed using an optimized seed regressor obtained from a first recursive procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MCLEAN HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yunjie Tong, Blaise B. Frederick
  • Patent number: 10902602
    Abstract: A system for computer-aided triage includes a router, a remote computing system, and a client application. A method for computer-aided triage includes receiving a data packet associated with a patient and taken at a point of care; checking for a suspected condition associated with the data packet; in an event that the suspected condition is detected, determining a recipient based on the suspected condition; and transmitting information to a device associated with the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Viz.ai Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Mansi, David Golan, Gil Levi, Yuval Duchin
  • Patent number: 10898103
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for MRI with respect to vessels and bleedings. The method may include exciting a region of interest by applying an RF pulse, wherein the region of interest includes a vessel region and a bleeding region. The method may further include acquiring a plurality of echo signals related to the region of interest. The method may further include generating one or more magnitude images based on the plurality of echo signals, generating a first image with respect to the vessel region based on the one or more magnitude images, generating one or more phase images based on the plurality of echo signals, and generating a second image with respect to a distribution of susceptibility of the bleeding region based on the one or more phase images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD., THE AFFILIATED DRUM TOWER HOSPITAL OF NANJING UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL
    Inventors: Yongquan Ye, Bing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10896497
    Abstract: The present invention is an inconsistency detecting system in a mixed-reality system that includes a portable display device having a transmissive display unit and a photographing unit for photographing a real space and that renders a virtual object on the display unit in a predetermined real space such that the virtual object is visually recognized by a user, wherein the inconsistency detecting system generates first point cloud data from a combined image obtained by displaying the virtual object in a superimposed fashion on a naked-eye visual-field image, generates second point cloud data by using point cloud data of the three-dimensional space in the determined user environment as well as point cloud data of the virtual object, and detects an inconsistency on the basis of a result of comparison between the first point cloud data and the second point cloud data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: CYGAMES, INC.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 10884079
    Abstract: A birdcage coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The birdcage coil includes: (a) a pair of conductive end rings, each having a generally domed shape in axial cross section; (b) a plurality of conductive, elongated rungs extending between the pair of conductive end rings in an axial direction; and (c) an LC delay circuit incorporated into the pair of rings and the plurality of elongated rungs, where the LC delay circuit includes a plurality of capacitive elements and a plurality of inductive elements. In the present invention circumferential spacing between adjacent elongated rungs is varied to improve homogeneity of the volume excitation. Alternatively, or in addition, LC circuit capacitance and/or inductance values are varied to improve homogeneity of the volume excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Wolfgang Manfred Loew, Charles Lucian Dumoulin
  • Patent number: 10885707
    Abstract: A network for generating 3D shape includes a perceptual network and a Graphic Convolutional Network (GCN). The GCN includes a coarse shape generation network for generating a coarse shape, and a Multi-View Deformation Network (MDN) for refining the coarse shape. The MDN further comprises at least one MDN unit, which in turn comprises a deformation hypothesis sampling module, a cross-view perceptual feature pooling module and a deformation reasoning module. Systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FUDAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yanwei Fu, Chao Wen, Yinda Zhang, Zhuwen Li
  • Patent number: 10877070
    Abstract: Probes with fiducial targets, probe systems including the same, and associated methods. The probes include a probe body, a probe beam, a probe tip configured to contact a device under test (DUT), and a fiducial target affixed to the probe beam. The fiducial target is configured to be visible to an optical system to determine a position of the probe tip relative to the DUT. The methods include methods of utilizing and/or manufacturing the probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FormFactor Beaverton, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph George Frankel, Koby L. Duckworth, Kazuki Negishi