Roshy J Francis

US Patent:

6362620, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Dec 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/473218

Inventors:

Josef P. Debbins - Waukesha WI
Roshy J. Francis - Waukesha WI
Richard J. Prorok - Waukesha WI
Lawrence E. Ploetz - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G01V 300

US Classification:

324309, 324314

Abstract:

An interactive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes a MR imaging device, a network coupling the MR imaging device and a remote facility, an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device and the network, a memory coupled to the MR imaging device, and a sequence controller coupled to the memory. The MR imaging device is configured to acquire and reconstruct MR data in real-time of a current imaging section and display a MR image in real-time of the current imaging section. The network provides remote services to the MR imaging device. The operator interface permits an operator to select from a plurality of image contrast mechanisms. The memory stores a plurality of image contrast waveform segments and at least one imaging waveform segment. Each of the plurality of image contrast waveform segments and the at least one imaging waveform segment is distinctly addressable such that each waveform segment can be independently accessed from the memory. The sequence controller dynamically links the selected image contrast waveform segments and one imaging waveform segment, causing the MR imaging device to acquire a new image with the selected waveform segment mechanisms.

US Patent:

6377046, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Jun 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/590334

Inventors:

Josef P. Debbins - Waukesha WI
Roshy J. Francis - Waukesha WI
Richard J. Prorok - San Ramon CA
Lawrence E. Ploetz - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G01V 300

US Classification:

324309, 324314

Abstract:

A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system equipped with real-time imaging capability and method of interactively prescribing image contrast are disclosed herein. The MR imaging system includes a sequence controller for constructing MR imaging pulse sequences and a waveform memory for storing waveform segments. The MR imaging system allows an operator to interactively prescribe image contrast mechanism prior to and/or during real-time imaging. The use of image contrast waveform segments, only as needed, minimizes unnecessary MR scan time.

US Patent:

6741672, May 25, 2004

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150227

Inventors:

Ajeetkumar Gaddipati - Waukesha WI
Conrad J. Dirckx - Milwaukee WI
Roshy James Francis - Waukesha WI
Gabriel Fernandez - Menomonee Falls WI
Mark T. Radick - Muskego WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 603

US Classification:

378 4, 378901, 382131

Abstract:

A sequence description defining the events for traversing k-space during a medical imaging scan is defined through a k-space graphical view, thereby providing an easy programming interface for MR physicists. From the k-space view, data elements can be generated by object-oriented sequence description components in the form of predefined sequences. The data elements generated by the predefined sequences are stored in a table, the lines in the table defining an ordered list of pulse segments associated with each trajectory in k-space, the table can also hold information on time ordering or sequencing of k-space trajectories, desired triggering for each k-space trajectory and similar data objects. The k-space description/configuration of sequences is then translated to a group of downloadable sequence components.

US Patent:

61665444, Dec 26, 2000

Filed:

Nov 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/200158

Inventors:

Josef P. Debbins - Waukesha WI
Roshy J. Francis - Waukesha WI
Richard J. Prorok - Waukesha WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01V 300

US Classification:

324309

Abstract:

A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system equipped with real-time imaging capability and methods of interactively prescribing image contrast are disclosed herein. The MR imaging system includes a sequence controller for constructing MR imaging pulse sequences and a waveform memory for storing waveform segments. The MR imaging system allows an operator to interactively prescribe image contrast mechanism prior to and/or during real-time imaging. The use of image contrast waveform segments, only as needed, minimizes unnecessary MR scan time.