Magnetic Resonance Imaging Or Spectroscopy Patents (Class 600/410)
  • Patent number: 9995812
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for quantifying microscopic diffusion anisotropy and/or mean diffusivity in a material by analysis of echo attenuation curves acquired with two different gradient modulations schemes, wherein one gradient modulation scheme is based on isotropic diffusion weighting and the other gradient modulation scheme is based on non-isotropic diffusion weighting, and wherein the method comprises analyzing by comparing the signal decays of the two acquired echo attenuation curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CR Development AB
    Inventors: Daniel Topgaard, Samo Lasic, Markus Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9993206
    Abstract: A sensitive measure of brain condition simultaneously evaluates multiple measurements of water diffusion in brain tissue combined so as to correct for covariance between the different data types of the multipoint measurements and compares the multipoint measurements to a corresponding multipoint measure representing normal brain tissue to provide a distance indicating a likelihood of atypical brain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Andrew Lafayette Alexander, Douglas Carl Dean, III, Gregory Russel Kirk, Brittany Gail Travers
  • Patent number: 9995807
    Abstract: In a control method and control unit to monitor a data acquisition of magnetic resonance image data of an imaging area located in a measurement volume of a magnetic resonance apparatus, an RF excitation pulse is radiated by an RF transmission/reception device of the magnetic resonance apparatus, raw data are acquired after a time after the radiated excitation pulse, by means of the RF transmission/reception device, and store the raw data, the raw data are transmitted to a monitoring unit and (a) through (c) are repeated while switching different gradients for spatial coding by readout of k-space corresponding to the imaging area along trajectories that are predetermined by the switched gradients, up to a termination criterion that is predetermined by the monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Universitatsklinikum Freiburg
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9986938
    Abstract: The various aspects relate to a method of determining a geometrical parameter of a side branch of a main branch of a blood vessel, comprising receiving a multitude of cross section data sets, the data sets representing geometries of cross sections of the main branch over a length of the main branch and receiving position data of a cut plane of the main branch, the cut plane intersecting the side branch and the cut plane being defined under an angle with the cross-sections. The method further comprises, based on data in at least a part of the cross section data sets, constructing image data of a constructed cross section of the main branch in the cut plane. The method comprises receiving contour data defining a contour in the constructed cross section, the contour being provided in the side branch and determining the parameter by determining a parameter of the contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIS ASSOCIATED B.V.
    Inventors: Shengxian Tu, Johan Hendrikus Christiaan Reiber
  • Patent number: 9989613
    Abstract: A system and method for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes controlling an RF system of an MRI system to acquire coil calibration data from a subject including a material causing inhomogeneities in a static magnetic field of the MRI system when arranged in the bore of the MRI system. After acquiring the coil calibration data, the RF system is controlled to acquire imaging data from the subject at multiple different resonance frequency offsets. The spectral bin images relate specific resonance frequencies to distinct spatial locations in the static magnetic field of the MRI system. An image of the subject is reconstructed from the imaging data using coil calibration data and the spectral bin data to provide spatial encoding of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Curtis N. Wiens, Nathan S. Artz
  • Patent number: 9983282
    Abstract: Spin-lock T1?-weighted images of a subject are acquired and processed to produce an image that is indicative of bioelectromagnetic activity in the subject. A spin-lock RF field B1? is produced such that the Larmor frequency in the rotating frame corresponds to the expected frequency of the bioelectromagnetic activity. As a result, the magnetic field fluctuations generated by the bioelectromagnetic currents shorten the T1? of the surrounding tissue, creating a contrast mechanism that is seen as a reduced MR signal in the T1?-weighted image that is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Wald, Thomas Witzel, Bruce R. Rosen
  • Patent number: 9974490
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for segmenting image data of an examination object, raw data of the examination object are achieved with the operation of a magnetic resonance scanner. Quantitative image data of the examination object are then calculated in a processor from the raw data. At least one physical variable of the examination object is quantitatively ascertained pixelwise and is displayed. The quantitative image data are segmented for identification of predetermined objects in the quantitative image data, and displayed in a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Theresa Bachschmidt, David Grodzki, Heiko Meyer, Mathias Nittka, Esther Raithel
  • Patent number: 9962106
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to one of present embodiments includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate fluid information including a velocity vector based on three-dimensional phase image data in multiple time phases, the three-dimensional phase image data being collected by phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging, and the three-dimensional phase image data representing a fluid flowing through a lumen. The processing circuitry is configured to identify a wall region of the lumen based on the velocity vector. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate wall shear stress using the wall region and the fluid information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Bannae, Shigeharu Ohyu
  • Patent number: 9965891
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for integrating imaging data from multiple sources to create a single, accurate model of a patient's anatomy. One method includes receiving a representation of a target object for modeling; determining one or more first anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more first images of the target anatomical object; determining one or more second anatomical parameters of the target anatomical object from at least one of one or more second images of the target anatomical object; updating the one or more first anatomical parameters based at least on the one or more second anatomical parameters; and generating a model of the target anatomical object based on the updated first anatomical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo Grady, Michiel Schaap
  • Patent number: 9965852
    Abstract: System and method for diagnosing brain conditions including evaluating fiber pathways of white matter tracts using a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) process, tracking the propagation of waves traveling at specific angles to the fiber pathways by performing a 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) process at the same spatial resolution and voxel position as the DTI, analyzing the viscoelastic properties using an inversion having at least nine elastic coefficients, determining the curvature along the pathways, differentiating the spatial-spectral filter twice with respect to arc length along the pathways, and diagnosing a brain condition based on the viscoelastic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Anthony J. Romano
  • Patent number: 9940712
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the automated detection and analysis of structural tissue alterations related to myelin and axons/neurons in one or more biological structures of a patient's nervous system obtained from data from a medical imaging system, or the initial sensing or data collection processes such as, those that could be used to generate an image. In some embodiments, the method comprises, at a system having a memory and one or more processor for processing and displaying images of the biological structure, computationally processing at least a T1 weighted magnetic resonance image of the structure and a T2 weighted magnetic resonance image of the structure in order to analyze at least a portion of the structure of the nervous system using a plurality of stored tissue classifier elements to determine if the portion of the structure correlates with the presence of myelin. Such methods are useful for the detection of diseases associated with demyelination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Roland Henry, Stephen Hauser, Alyssa Zhu, Esha Datta
  • Patent number: 9933497
    Abstract: In a method for determining excitation profiles from excitation pulses in a magnetic resonance, a homogeneous phantom is placed within the measurement volume of the magnetic resonance apparatus, at least one measurement data set of the phantom is acquired by operating the apparatus with a test pulse sequence composed of one excitation pulse, of which the excitation profile is to be determined, and a test gradient that is already activated on at full strength while the excitation pulse (A) is irradiated. The intensity profile of at least one acquired measurement data set in the direction in which the test gradient was switched on is determined in a processor, and the excitation profile of the excitation pulse is determined from the calculated intensity profile. The determined excitation profile is saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 9924867
    Abstract: The methods and systems provided can automatically determine an Arteriolar-to-Venular diameter Ratio, AVR, in blood vessels, such as retinal blood vessels and other blood vessels in vertebrates. The AVR is an important predictor of increases in the risk for stroke, cerebral atrophy, cognitive decline, and myocardial infarct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Michael D. Abramoff, Melndert Niemeijer, Xiayu Xu, Milan Sonka, Joseph M. Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9921283
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods to detect degenerative processes and abnormalities in soft tissues at high spatial resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio and short scanning times, based on quantitative tissue properties. These methods might provide a useful tool to detect and assess abnormalities in soft tissues and to monitor disease progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Aviv Mazer, Brian Wandell
  • Patent number: 9916118
    Abstract: In a medical imaging system and an operating method therefor, in order to simplify the operation of the medical imaging system, a framework condition for the creation of image information is selected on the basis of one or more acquisition sequences, and a computer of the imaging system automatically preselects multiple parameter sets for the at least one acquisition sequence as a function of the selected framework condition. For each of the preselected parameter sets, at least one characteristic from the acquisition sequence or from image information assigned to the acquisition sequence is visually presented. A parameter set is selected on the basis of the presented characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sultan Haider, Mathias Nittka, Mario Zeller
  • Patent number: 9916654
    Abstract: Method, system and computer-accessible medium for determining at least one of axonal loss or myelin degradation can be provided. For example, it is possible to receive data based on at least one of a measure of diffusion of an axonal structure or a measure of a density of axons, and determine axonal loss and/or myelin degradation based on the data. The determination can be based on axonal geometry of at least one parallel tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Els Fieremans, Dmitry S. Novikov
  • Patent number: 9901284
    Abstract: Changes in electrical stimulation therapy delivered via a medical device are coordinated with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans. In one example, a medical device delivers electrical stimulation therapy to a patient in an MRI unit, where the medical device is configured to cycle electrical stimulation therapy between a plurality of stimulation states. An indication that the medical device will cycle the electrical stimulation therapy or has cycled the electrical stimulation therapy while the patient is in the MRI unit or being imaged by the MRI unit is generated, and an MRI scan of the patient via an MRI workstation is initiated based on the indication. In another example, a medical device detects activation of an MRI scan and automatically switches stimulation states based upon the detection of the MRI scan, such that the scan is associated with a particular stimulation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Olsen, Steven M. Goetz
  • Patent number: 9901285
    Abstract: NMR spectroscopy is performed on intervertebral disc tissue. Extent of degeneration is determined based on the NMR spectroscopy. Correlation between NMR spectral regions and at least one of tissue degeneration and pain are made. Accordingly, NMR spectroscopy is used to determine location and/or extent of at least one of degeneration or pain associated with a region of tissue, such as for example in particular disc degeneration, or discogenic pain. NMR spectral peak ratios, such as between N-Acetyl/cho and cho/carb, are readily acquired and analyzed to predict degree of tissue degeneration and/or pain for: tissue samples using HR-MAS spectroscopy; and larger portions of anatomy such as joint segments such as a spine, using clinical 3T MRI systems with surface head or knee coils; and tissue regions such as discs within spines of living patients using 3T MRI systems with a surface spine coil, thus providing a completely non-invasive diagnostic toolset and method to image and localize degeneration and/or pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Sharmila Majumdar, John Kurhanewicz, Jeffrey C. Lotz, David S. Bradford, Kayvan Keshari
  • Patent number: 9901356
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an operative site during a surgical procedure using a computer controlled surgical device. In general the methods include the steps of processing one or more defined cutting paths having one or more cut regions; determining a correlation between the cut region and one or more critical regions to generate an alert, wherein the alert indicates a movable end-effector is within a defined proximity of the critical region; and requiring a user acknowledgment of the alert to allow processing of the cutting path to continue. Also described herein are systems and methods for minimizing user fatigue during a semi-computer controlled surgical procedure. In general the methods includes the step of requiring a user generated acknowledgment in response to a computer generated alert, wherein the user acknowledgment is generated using a user controller, the user controller being minimally intrusive to the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: THINK SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Feimo Shen, In K. Mun, Denise A. Miller, Bryan Z. Wei, James P. Morash
  • Patent number: 9898824
    Abstract: A method and a system automatically evaluate the volume of penumbra mismatch during an exam. The method includes performing a magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain for acquiring native diffusion images of brain slices. A MR perfusion-weighted imaging of the brain is performed for acquiring native perfusion images of the brain slices. For each brain slice, b0 native diffusion image of the brain slice are segmented to create a contour mask. For each brain slice, a necrosis and cerebrospinal fluid mask (hereafter NC mask) is created from an ADC map of the brain slice. The contour mask and the NC mask of a same slice are fused. For each brain slice, all native perfusion images acquired for the slice are aligned with the NC mask obtained for the slice and the NC mask is fused with each native perfusion image for obtaining a perfusion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Association pour la Recherche en Neuro-Imagerie de L'Hopital Gui de Chauliac/Hopital Gui de Chauliac, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier
    Inventors: Fabienne Betting, Marion Connan, Vincent Costalat, Emmanuelle Le Bars
  • Patent number: 9880237
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner includes a control device, a gradient coil for generating a gradient field, a gradient coil connector for connecting the gradient coil to the control device, and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured and disposed to detect a temperature of the gradient coil connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andrew Dewdney
  • Patent number: 9858687
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable storage mediums relate to generating an image that includes functional, anatomical, and physiological images. The generated image may be an integrated image based on the functional image on which the anatomical and physiological images are mapped. The generated image may indicate more than one location of optimal lead placement. The generated image may be useful in pre-planning cardiac intervention procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: John N. Oshinski, Jonathan D. Suever, Michael S. Lloyd, Angel R. Leon
  • Patent number: 9851425
    Abstract: A technique and associated imaging system is provided that selectively acquires the myelin water signal by utilizing a multiple inversion RF pulses to suppress a range of long T1 components including those from axonal and extracellular water. This leaves the myelin water, which has been suggested to have short T1, as the primary source of the image. After long T1 suppression, the resulting image is dominated by short T2 in the range of the myelin water (T2*<20 ms at 3 T). This result confirms that the short T1 component has short T2* and, therefore, the resulting image is a myelin water image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Jongho Lee, Sehong Oh
  • Patent number: 9846217
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance scanner (10) includes a main magnet (12), gradient coils (14) and a gradient coil controller (28), one or more RF coils (16,50), an RF transmitter (30), an RF receiver (34), and one or more processors (38). The main magnet (12) generates a B0 field. The gradient coils (14) and a gradient coil controller (28) generate gradients across the Bo field. The one or more RF coils (16,50) transmit B1 pulses and receive magnetic resonance signals. The RF transmitter (30) transmits B1 pulses to the RF coils to excite and manipulate resonance. The RF receiver (34) demodulates received resonance signals into data lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 9841483
    Abstract: In one embodiment a magnetic resonance imaging method includes the steps of comparing a first image and a second image to determine whether there is a distorted region present in the first image or the second image, each of the first image and second image having a total field of view that is the distance of the image along an axis, assigning an affected field of view to a width of the distorted region, determining an acceleration factor by dividing the total field of view of one or both of the first image and the second image by the affected field of view, acquiring sampled image data according to the acceleration factor of one or both of the first image and the second image and applying a mask to a third image in the affected field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Wheaton, Wayne R. Dannels
  • Patent number: 9836667
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and a method for analyzing apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events and characterizing these apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events by constructal analysis. The resulting statistical values obtained can be used to compare the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events with other apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events. The comparison can yield knowledge about the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events as well as the neighborhood or surroundings of the apparent random pathways, patterns, networks, or a series of events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel John Dickrell, III, Wallace Gregory Sawyer, Richard D. Clark, III
  • Patent number: 9836118
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing movement of a person includes: measuring kinetic data as the person ambulates with a pair of removable force sensors affixed to a person's ankles, feet, shoes or lower-limb prosthesis with each of the pair of force sensors on a different one of the person's ankle, feet, shoes or lower-limb prosthesis; obtaining kinematic data as the person ambulates with at least one video camera that video records the person ambulating without markers; and temporally synchronizing the kinetic data and the kinematic data together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Wilson Steele
  • Patent number: 9830697
    Abstract: Dose values are displayed. The dose values display the take-up of radiation by an examination volume to be expected during an irradiation. An examination volume is segmented in an image, and the dose values are assigned to areas of the surface of the examination volume. The surface of the examination volume is displayed as a plane such that the areas displayed as flat will be graphically encoded by the dose values assigned to the respective areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Boettger, Mark Hastenteufel
  • Patent number: 9824148
    Abstract: A method for searching and displaying scattered logs, comprising: finding out one or more corresponding log data based on a search key word; determining a desired timestamp from the log data, and regarding the log data containing the timestamp as target data; searching a semantic file for related semantic data based on the search key word, and finding out related log data based on the related semantic data; time filtering the related log data to obtain filtered log data; establishing a coordinate system by mapping the target data and the filtered log data onto mapping points of the coordinate system; semantically linking the filtered log data, and dying the filtered log data and the target data; and counting the number of lines related to the target data and the filtered log data, and generating links thereto. The present invention further discloses a device for searching and displaying scattered logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Maoquan Zhang, Weiguo Tang, Xueli Wang
  • Patent number: 9824456
    Abstract: A time series of image frames in an anatomical scan is segmented. An image frame k in the time series of image frames is manually segmented. A non-rigid registration is then performed between the image frame k and a next image frame k+1 in the time series of image frames. A segmentation on the image frame k+1 is computed based on the non-rigid registration. Each subsequent image frame k+n in the time series of image frames is iteratively segmented using non-rigid registration with the segmented previous image frame k+(n?1) in the time series of image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Michelle Noga, Kumaradevan Punithakumar
  • Patent number: 9818175
    Abstract: A data processing method of determining a transformation for transforming medical image data into a positional reference system, the method being executed by a computer and comprising the following steps: a) acquiring reference position data comprising reference position information describing a reference position of a medical imaging apparatus in an imaging apparatus reference system; b) acquiring imaging geometry data comprising imaging geometry information describing an imaging geometry of the medical imaging apparatus; c) acquiring actual position data comprising actual position information describing different actual positions of the medical imaging apparatus in an imaging apparatus reference system, wherein the medical imaging apparatus takes the actual positions for acquiring medical image data comprising medical image information describing an image of the anatomical region of the patient's body at each of the actual positions; d) determining, based on the reference position data and the imaging geome
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Rainer Birkenbach, Dieter Ceglarz, Till Gerken
  • Patent number: 9808203
    Abstract: A method includes introducing the examination object into an examination region of a combination device; recording emission computed tomography data over a measurement period and storing detection events and detection instants associated therewith; measuring magnetic resonance data of at least two subregions of the examination region at at least two instants during the recording period of the emission computed tomography data and storing the magnetic resonance data and the recording instants; determining motion information describing a motion of a region of the examination object at a first instant relative to the position at a second instant from the magnetic resonance data recorded at the first instant and the second instant, for each subregion; determining a motion model describing motion of the examination object, for the entire object, from information for the subregions; and calculating motion-corrected emission tomography data from detection events, detection instants and the motion model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Westfaelische Wilhems-Universitaet Muenster
    Inventors: Carmel Hayes, Ralf Ladebeck, Klaus Schäfers
  • Patent number: 9795356
    Abstract: An imaging system allows for modification of data acquisition parameters, where the parameters affect dose distribution. The system includes a library of exams, and a computer programmed to obtain a set of scanning parameters for image data acquisition and image reconstruction, obtain scan data from the library of exams that is based on a similarity metric for a patient to be scanned, simulate a new scan of the patient using the obtained scan data and using the obtained set of scanning parameters, and generate a new set of scanning parameters based on the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian E. Nett, Roy A. Nilsen, Grant M. Stevens
  • Patent number: 9795318
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a section position, a first image creating unit which creates a first image at the set section position by a multi planar reformat on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal collected from a subject by a first imaging sequence at a 3D region or multiple section positions different from the set section position, a determining unit which determines a section position of the first image, and a second image creating unit which creates a second image at the determined section position by the multi planar reformat on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal collected from the subject by a second imaging sequence different from the first imaging sequence at a 3D region or multiple section positions different from the determined section position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshio Fukuta
  • Patent number: 9788741
    Abstract: An organ evaluation device, system, or method is configured to receive electrophysiological data from a patient or model organism and integrates the data in a computational backend environment with anatomical data input from an external source, spanning a plurality of file formats, where the input parameters are combined to visualize and output current density and/or current flow activity having ampere-based units displayed in the spatial context of heart or other organ anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GENETESIS LLC
    Inventors: Vineet Erasala, Peeyush Shrivastava, Emmanuel T. Setegn
  • Patent number: 9788761
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images with reduced motion artifacts includes acquiring a plurality of k-space data sets by traversing a plurality of radial trajectories in three-dimensional (3D) k-space, generating a plurality of 3D MR images derived from k-space populated by the k-space data sets, aligning the 3D MR images with respect to each other, determining one or more motion parameters for the object based upon the aligning, modifying values of k-space data sets using the determined one or more motion parameters, generating a motion-corrected 3D MR image from a combination of acquired k-space data sets including the modified values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aiming Lu, Cheng Ouyang
  • Patent number: 9788975
    Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating the tension or laxity of the soft tissue surrounding a patient's knee joint. Based on this evaluation, a surgeon may determine a desired resection depth for a knee arthroplasty procedure that will achieve an appropriate spacing between adjacent, articulating components of the knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZIMMER, INC.
    Inventor: Jia Li
  • Patent number: 9782211
    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 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: UPTAKE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Robert Lawrence Barry, Erik Henne, Avina Gupta, Sourish Bandyopadhyay
  • Patent number: 9784812
    Abstract: In a method to associate k-space lines with echo trains of raw magnetic resonance data, parallel k-space lines orthogonally intersect a plane at respective intersection points. Each echo train has a trajectory length, and the k-space lines are associated with the echo trains such that a sum of trajectory lengths of all echo trains is minimal. The trajectory length TL of an echo train is defined by TL = ? i = 1 L - 1 ? ? P i ? P i + 1 _ wherein L is a sequence of k-space lines, Pi is an intersection point of the i-th k-space line of the echo train with the plane; and PiPi+1 is the length of the path from the i-th intersection point to the (i+1)-th intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Esther Meyer, Dominik Paul
  • Patent number: 9782129
    Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for measuring blood pressure. The medical device may include an elongated shaft having a proximal region and a distal region. An optical fiber may extend along the proximal region. An optical pressure sensor may be coupled to the optical fiber. The optical pressure sensor may be disposed along the distal region. A centering member may be coupled to the optical fiber and positioned adjacent to the optical pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Lloyd Radman
  • Patent number: 9773308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating biomarkers associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurobehavioral disorders, or other neurological disorders are described. In general, the biomarkers are generated based on correlations between functional imaging data and clinical acquired from a subject, as computed using a multivariate classifier. Functional imaging data may include functional magnetic resonance images, or activation maps generated from such images. Clinical data generally includes data associated with a clinical or behavioral characterization of the subject. The biomarkers can be used to monitor or otherwise assess a treatment response; to provide diagnostic information, such as subtyping or classifying a disorder; to provide prognostic information, such as a prediction of treatment response or outcome; or to indicate functional or anatomical targets for treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Inventors: David Silbersweig, Emily Stern, Hong Pan
  • Patent number: 9767552
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the presence of anomalous material within tissue is detected by scanning a patient using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain MRI data, identifying individual voxels of the MRI data, identifying multiple parameters of each voxel, and determining as to each voxel based upon the identified parameters the likelihood of tissue represented by the voxel containing anomalous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jon Paul Dobson, Mark Rogers Davidson, Yunmei Chen, Keith David White
  • Patent number: 9764163
    Abstract: A control system is described which provides a user interface that displays a clear graphical representation of relevant data for a particle radiation therapy system (such as a pencil-beam proton therapy system) for treating multiple beam fields as efficiently as possible. The user interface allows a user to visualize a treatment session, select one or multiple beam fields to include in one or more beam applications, and dissociate beam fields previously grouped if necessary. Further embodiments extend the ability to initiate the application of the generated proton therapy beam and the grouping of beam fields to be performed remotely from the treatment room itself, and even automatically, reducing the need for manual interventions to setup between fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH
    Inventors: Anke Benner, Julie Clift, Andreas Hensel, Richard Kane, Jan Karis, Nilesh Sinha, Brian Spatola, Jan Timmer
  • Patent number: 9753110
    Abstract: In a method for acquiring magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance system using a magnetic resonance sequence, the sequence has a first partial sequence in which magnetic resonance data are acquired for multiple slices that have to be acquired simultaneously, from which image data for the individual slices are calculated by a reconstruction algorithm. The sequence also has a second partial sequence for determining additional data, which are used to evaluate and/or assess the magnetic resonance data, and which have a spatial resolution that is lower than the magnetic resonance data, in which radio-frequency pulses and readout processes take place in a slice-specific manner through a time offset within a single measuring process, in which a single continuous excitation period with the radio-frequency pulses and a single continuous readout period with the readout processes follow one another, so that separate additional data are directly determined for each slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: David Andrew Porter
  • Patent number: 9754405
    Abstract: System, computer-readable medium and method are provided for organizing and rendering 3D voxel models in a tree data structure. The system includes a display, a memory loaded with 3D voxel data arranged in a N3-tree data structure, and a processor that renders the 3D voxel data on the display. The N3-tree data structure includes a top node, one or more levels of middle nodes, and leaf nodes. Each of the top node and middle nodes includes 64 occupancy bits and 32 index bits. The 64 occupancy bits indicate an occupied (“1”) or empty (“0”) state of each of 64 subunits (subcubes or voxels) included in the node. The 32 index bits represent a pointer to a memory location where its occupied subunits are stored. Each of the leaf nodes represents an occupied voxel, and includes an index number that can be used to point to a memory location of at least one type of attribute value (color, normal, intensity, etc.) of the occupied voxel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NGRAIN (CANADA) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Young, Craig Furness, Meru Brunn
  • Patent number: 9743879
    Abstract: A method of a measuring kinematic parameter in a subject is provided. The method includes obtaining a first magnetic resonance (MR) image set of a bone marrow segment of the subject in a first position and obtaining a second MR image set of the bone marrow segment of the subject in a second position where the second position different from the first position. The method further includes registering the first image set with the second image set and measuring a kinematic parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Rush University Medical Center
    Inventors: Nozomu Inoue, Alejandro A. Espinoza Orias
  • Patent number: 9746532
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to carry out magnetic resonance imaging of a patient using a transmitting QD coil that allows at least one of phase and amplitude of a radio-frequency transmit pulse on at least one input channel of the transmitting QD coil to be adjusted independently of each other, and an adjustment unit arranged to adjust at least one of the phase and the amplitude of the radio-frequency transmit pulse according to imaging conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Umeda, Takahiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9737256
    Abstract: A kidney viability assessment system (KVAS) is disclosed which provides objective and reliable tests to assess the viability of transplant or donor kidneys in vivo and predict their post-transplant outcomes. KVAS includes an optical device augmented by an intelligent algorithm that can evaluate the viability or quality of the donor kidney in a real-time, non-invasive way. In particular, it includes a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device and at least one processor configured for executing a set of instructions corresponding to an automatic image processing algorithm for quantification of kidney microstructures and functions. Handheld OCT can survey the entire surface of kidney, and the image processing algorithm automatically segments and quantifies the diameter and/or density of the kidney microstructures, blood flows, etc., and quantitative values are displayed in real-time on a display of the KVAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Georgetown University
    Inventors: Yu Chen, Hsing-Wen Wang, Peter Andrews, Jeremiah Wierwille
  • Patent number: 9721389
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a first perspective of a three-dimensional marker may be detected, where the three-dimensional marker has a shape that presents a different appearance from every angle. A first three-dimensional virtual overlay corresponding to the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker may be identified or generated. The first three-dimensional virtual overlay corresponding to the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker may be projected or displayed such that the first three-dimensional virtual overlay substantially covers the first perspective of the three-dimensional marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Erik Holmquist
  • Patent number: RE46567
    Abstract: Provided is an MRI apparatus. In the MRI apparatus, a data collection unit repetitively performs a tag mode of applying an RF wave to at least an upstream portion of an imaging area to perform fluid labeling of a fluid flown into the imaging area and, after a lapse of an inversion time from application of the RF wave, performing magnetic resonance data collection, while changing the inversion time. An image reconstruction unit reconstructs a plurality of tag images corresponding to a plurality of different inversion times based on the magnetic resonance data collected in the tag mode. A reference image generation unit generates a reference image based on the plurality of the tag images. A fluid image generation unit generates a subtraction image between each of the tag images and the reference image as a fluid image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Tokunori Kimura