Steven S Curtis

US Patent:

6507638, Jan 14, 2003

Filed:

May 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/867820

Inventors:

Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT
R. Larry Anderton - West Jordan UT

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

H05G 164

US Classification:

378 983, 378 987

Abstract:

An electronic video camera apparatus is provided for focusing light rays from object plane proximate image intensifier of a medical x-ray imaging system onto an image plane proximate a light sensor. The electronic video camera includes a lens system located between the object and image planes to focus light rays from the object plane onto the image plane. The light rays at the object plane are representative of a patient image. An optical filter is located between the object and image planes and partially blocks light rays passing there through. The optical filter includes at least first and second filter regions having different opacity. The first and second filter regions are alignable with the lens system at different times to block differing first and second amounts of light rays, respectively, associated with differing first and second x-ray amounts transmitted at different times.

US Patent:

6788823, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Oct 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/999697

Inventors:

Joseph Allred - Centerville UT
R. Larry Anderton - West Jordan UT
Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT
Barry K. Hanover - Salt Lake City UT

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382260, 382236

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for reducing noise and motion artifacts in pixels of a processed or displayed video image by filtering pixel values of the video image based on a first frame having currently stored (filtered) pixel values and a second frame having recently captured but not yet filtered pixel values. The apparatus includes a spatial filter for computing a motion value of a pixel of interest by averaging difference values of selected pixels surrounding the pixel of interest. Also included is a filter function means for producing an output difference value of the pixel of interest based on the motion value and an adder for adding the output difference value to the first frame filtered pixel value of the pixel of interest. Thus, each pixel of the video image is filtered according to the amount of motion in the video image.

US Patent:

7034492, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

Oct 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/695179

Inventors:

Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G05B 11/42
G05B 5/01
G05B 19/18

US Classification:

318610, 318623, 318630, 318560, 700255

Abstract:

A method for differentiating if a feedback signal is a result of an unintentional collisions in a servo system includes injecting a feed forward term in the servo system.

US Patent:

7274771, Sep 25, 2007

Filed:

May 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/120448

Inventors:

J. Joseph Allred - Centerville UT, US
Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US
Dimitri Yatsenko - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H05G 1/64
H05G 1/44
H05G 1/42

US Classification:

378 9812, 378108, 378 97

Abstract:

Methods and systems for controlling exposure for medical imaging devices is provided. The method includes varying the exposure level of X-rays within an X-ray imaging system to generate a plurality of images having different exposure levels and combining the plurality of images in an additive process to form a single X-ray image.

US Patent:

7360100, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Aug 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/633063

Inventors:

J. Joseph Allred - Centerville UT, US
Marc Kevin Uhrey - Layton UT, US
Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US
Donley L. Bush - West Valley City UT, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 1/26
G06F 1/32

US Classification:

713300, 713320, 713324, 713330

Abstract:

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a dynamic power management system. The system includes a power input providing power to an imaging system, measurement unit(s) for measuring current and/or voltage in the imaging system, and a power management controller allocating available power among components in the imaging system. The power management controller may allow a battery to charge at a maximum rate based on current used by the imaging system components. The measurement unit(s) may measure a voltage and a current for the power provided to the imaging system. The power management controller may control current drawn by the imaging system components. The system may also include a limit sensor for detecting when current consumption exceeds a certain limit. Additionally, the system may include at least one switching unit controlled by the power management controller. The switching unit(s) control an amount of power routed to imaging system components.

US Patent:

7368888, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Dec 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/296947

Inventors:

Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G05B 11/42

US Classification:

318610, 318560, 318623, 318630

Abstract:

A method for differentiating if a feedback signal is a result of an unintentional collision in a servo system includes injecting a feed forward term in the servo system.

US Patent:

7377172, May 27, 2008

Filed:

Jul 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/461302

Inventors:

Vernon T Jensen - Draper UT, US
Steven E Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

A61B 6/02
G01L 11/00

US Classification:

73702, 378198

Abstract:

A system and method for detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event on an imaging system. The system comprises a main assembly, a support assembly coupled to the main assembly, and at least one sensor coupled to the imaging system. The at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system. The method comprises detecting at least one force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurring on the imaging system and providing an indication to a user when a force, impact, shock, or vibration event occurs on the imaging system.

US Patent:

7471768, Dec 30, 2008

Filed:

Mar 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/369420

Inventors:

Steven E. Curtis - Salt Lake City UT, US
R. Larry Anderton - West Jordan UT, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H05G 1/60
H05G 1/64

US Classification:

378115, 378 4, 378 9811, 378 9812

Abstract:

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for x-ray imaging including: exposing a volume of interest to a first technique level to obtain a first set of image data; exposing the volume of interest to a second technique level to obtain a second set of image data; and estimating whether the volume of interest includes a foreign object based at least in part on a comparison of at least an aspect of the first set of image data and at least an aspect of the second set of image data. According to an embodiment, one of the first and second technique levels is selected to generate x-rays having a higher average energy than the other of the first and second technique levels. According to an embodiment, at least one of the first and second technique levels is selectable to cause an overexposure. According to an embodiment, at least one of the first and second technique levels corresponds to a clinical technique level.