Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090285364 | Mitigation of Brake Failure - A method and system for mitigations brake failure in a medical device. The method and system includes a motion system for at least one movable load. Each movable load has a drive, a controller for the drive, and a brake. The controller is adapted to monitor positional parameters of the drive or electrical parameters of the brake or a combination of both. The method involves the step of monitoring the parameters and evaluating the parameters to detect a brake failure of the brake. | 11-19-2009 |
20100076300 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR MULTI-MODALITY IMAGING - A data processing process and embodiment for optimizing the signal path for multi-modality imaging is described. The embodiment and process optimizes the signal to noise ratio in a positron emission tomography (PET) signal path utilizing scintillation crystals, avalanche photo diodes, and charge sensitive preamplifiers in a dual modality MRI/PET scanner. The dual use of both and analog pole zero circuit and a digital filter enables higher signal levels or a fixed ADC input range and thus a higher possible signal to noise ratio in the presence of significant pileup caused by high positron activity. The higher signal to noise ratio is needed in the PET signal architecture, because of the presence of non-modal time varying electromagnetic fields from the MR, which are a significant source of noise for the wideband PET signal modality. | 03-25-2010 |
20100148046 | METHOD FOR COLLABORATIVE TUNING OF GAMMA CAMERA - A system and tuning method to collaboratively calibrate high voltage DAC values and Photomultiplier Tube DAC values of photomultiplier tubes of a gamma camera so that the detector produces a valid energy spectrum over the entire detector surface. A method for tuning a gamma camera having a plurality of photosensors, exposes the photosensors to scintillation photons corresponding to nuclear radiation of known energy; measures an energy output corresponding to each specific photosensor; calculates an average enemy output of all photosensors in the camera; collaboratively adjusts a DAC value corresponding to a voltage applied to a specific photosensor and a DAC | 06-17-2010 |
20110095172 | Self-Adaptive Tuning Of Gamma Camera - An improved system and method for tuning individual sensors (e.g., photomultiplier tubes) of a multi-sensor imaging system such as e.g., a gamma camera having an array of photo-multiplier tubes is provided that produces a uniform response over the entire system. Individual sensors of a multi-sensor imaging system are tuned based explicitly or implicitly on gain characteristics of individual sensors of the multi-sensor imaging system so as to produce a uniform response over the system. | 04-28-2011 |
20120018643 | Dual Amplifier For MR-PET Hybrid Imaging System - PET signals are amplified in a hybrid PET/MR system. An amplifier structure is provided for operation in the magnetic field of the MR magnets. By filtering to remove signals at the MR frequency (e.g., about 123 MHz) as part of the amplification circuit, the amplification circuit may be positioned within the RF cabin, within the magnetic field, and even within a same housing as the MR magnets. MR interference may be reduced by staged amplification. The filtering may be bi-directional, such as using parallel and series traps. Digitization of the PET signals may be provided within the magnetic field with no or little interference with MR operation. | 01-26-2012 |
20120018644 | MR-PET Imaging System Integration - A data processing unit for an integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an RF shield housing, a first input port in the RF shield housing configured to receive a PET detector signal, a first filter disposed in the RF shield housing, in communication with the first input port, and configured to remove MR noise from the PET detector signal, a second input port in the RF shield housing configured to receive DC power, a second filter disposed in the RF shield housing, in communication with the second input port, and configured to remove the MR noise from the DC power, and a signal processing circuit disposed in the RF shield housing and powered by the DC power, the signal processing circuit including an analog-to-digital converter to digitize the PET detector signal. | 01-26-2012 |
20120019064 | Power Distribution in MR-PET Imaging System Integration - An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed about the opening, a plurality of data processing units each electrically connected with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors, and a plurality of power supply modules, each power supply module being operable to generate a DC power supply for different groups of one or more of the data processing units. Each power supply module is discrete from the other power supply modules. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022361 | Data Processing Unit Positioning in MR-PET Imaging System Integration - An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed between the magnet and the opening, and a plurality of data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors. The plurality of data processing units are positioned along a side of the MR scanner not having the opening. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022362 | Data Processing Unit Integration for MR-PET Imaging - An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed between the opening and the magnet, and a plurality of data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors. Each data processing unit includes an RF shield housing, and the RF shield housings of the plurality of data processing units are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement relative to the opening. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022364 | Board-Level Partitioning in MR-PET Imaging System Integration - A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly of a data processing unit for an integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system, the PCB assembly includes a plurality of PCB layers disposed in a stacked arrangement, first and second PET signal processing circuits carried by a first layer of the plurality of PCB layers, first and second ground plane structures carried by a second layer of the plurality of PCB layers and configured relative to the first and second PET signal processing circuits, respectively, and a ground partition that separates the first PET signal processing circuit from the second PET signal processing circuit on the first layer. The ground partition extends through the first layer to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding between the first and second PET signal processing circuits. | 01-26-2012 |
20120059242 | Hybrid MR/PET Scanner With Patient Table Split Cable Feed - A hybrid magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system reduces likelihood of artifact distortion in PET images attributable to MR local coil cables and connectors in the patient table. MR local coil cables coupling the MR scanner and the MR local coil connectors are oriented so that they are outside the scanner field of view when performing PET scans. | 03-08-2012 |
20120076371 | Phantom Identification - The invention relates to calibration phantoms used in connection with medical imaging devices such as PET, MR, etc., and particularly in connection with hybrid systems such as MR/PET systems. In some cases, the phantoms have distinguishable, machine-readable identification features that allow the imaging system to identify them automatically, without operator intervention. In other cases, even where the phantoms do not have such distinguishable, machine-readable identification features, if the imaging system is appropriately configured with cameras and/or appropriate image analysis software, the imaging system can still identify the phantoms automatically. | 03-29-2012 |
20120089007 | Dual Imaging Acquisition Using Common Time-Base Frequency - Timing in a medical imaging system. The system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsystem and a non-MRI subsystem. Operation of the non-MRI subsystem involves a timing signal within a radio frequency (RF) cabin of the MRI subsystem. Basing each non-MRI subsystem timing signal on a time base common between the MRI subsystem and the non-MRI subsystem. The non-MRI subsystem can be a medical imaging subsystem. The non-MRI medical imaging subsystem can be a positron emission tomography (PET) subsystem. Each non-MRI subsystem timing signal that based on the common time base can be created using the same model of equipment used for creating timing signals in the MRI subsystem. At least one stage of the non-MRI subsystem timing signal based on the common time base can be created using the same equipment used for creating timing signals in the MRI subsystem. | 04-12-2012 |
20120136486 | Mitigation of Brake Failure - A method and system for mitigations brake failure in a medical device. The method and system includes a motion system for at least one movable load. Each movable load has a drive, a controller for the drive, and a brake. The controller is adapted to monitor positional parameters of the drive or electrical parameters of the brake or a combination of both. The method involves the step of monitoring the parameters and evaluating the parameters to detect a brake failure of the brake. | 05-31-2012 |
20130062525 | Positron Emission Tomography Block Detector Interconnect - Using standard or “off the shelf” cable to interconnect between the PET block detector and the detector circuit may save substantial costs given the number of PMTs in a PET system. Given space constraints, simple maintenance with reduced risk of disturbing cabling is desired, making ongoing use of standard cabling without adding further cabling desired. To implement digital gain control, a further communication is provided between the PET detector block and the detector circuit. Since the standard cable may not have additional wires for such communications and to reduce timing degradation, the PMT signals are combined, such as generating position and energy signals at the PET detector block. The four PMT signals are reduced to three signals without reduction in function, allowing a fourth twisted pair of wires in a CAT5 cable to be used for digital gain control. | 03-14-2013 |
20140316258 | MULTIPLE SECTION PET WITH ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY SECTION - A system includes a gantry, a first positron emission tomography (PET) section including a first detector ring oriented about an axis, and a second PET section supported by the gantry and including a second detector ring oriented about the axis. The gantry is adjustable to move the second PET section relative to the first PET section. | 10-23-2014 |