Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
324306000 | Determine fluid flow rate | 35 |
20090309592 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a fluid image data acquisition unit and a flow velocity measuring unit. The a fluid image data acquisition unit acquires fluid image data, corresponding to mutually different inversion times, by imaging with applying at least three inversion recovery pulses having the inversion times. The flow velocity measuring unit obtains a flow velocity of fluid based on time variation of a signal intensity depending on the inversion times at each of plural positions and a distance between the plural positions. | 12-17-2009 |
20100219824 | BIOLOGICAL DETECTOR AND METHOD - A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid. | 09-02-2010 |
20100264916 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REAL TIME AND REAL FLOW-RATE MEASUREMENT OF MULTI-PHASE FLUIDS - A method for measuring flow rate of at least one fluid in a multi-phase fluid comprises: providing a magnetic resonance module through which the fluid phases flow and at least one pre-polarization module of variable effective length upstream of the magnetic resonance module; and conducting a measurement by: i) setting the pre-polarization module to have a first effective length, ii) applying a RF pulse sequence to the fluid in the magnetic resonance module, iii) determining the intensity of a pre-determined number of spin echoes produced by the RF pulse sequence, iv) determining a line approximating the attenuation of the intensity during the RF sequence, v) determining slope and y-intercept of the line, vi) determining the ratio of the slope and intercept, vii) applying a calibration between the slope:intercept ratio and multi-phase flow rate so as to determine the flow velocity of the fluid in the multi-phase fluid. | 10-21-2010 |
20110001474 | NMR INSTRUMENTATION AND FLOW METER/CONTROLLER METHODS AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for obtaining NMR signals from a flowing fluid include permanent magnet assemblies for producing magnetic fields for NMR applications and instrumentations, including, but not limited to, flow metering. | 01-06-2011 |
20110109308 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE BASED APPARATUS AND METHOD TO ANALYZE AND TO MEASURE THE BI-DIRECTIONAL FLOW REGIME IN A TRANSPORT OR A PRODUCTION CONDUIT OF COMPLEX FLUIDS, IN REAL TIME AND REAL FLOW-RATE - A method for determining individual component flow-rates in a multi-phase fluid flowing in a pipe comprises the steps of: a) flowing the fluid through a magnetic resonance based apparatus comprising a magnetic resonance module and at least one pre-polarization module through which the fluid phases flow before entering the magnetic resonance module, wherein said pre-polarization module comprises a plurality of cylindrical segments that can be selectively combined so as to modify the effective length of the pre-polarization module, b) selectively using the prepolarization module to polarize a component in a volume of the fluid, c) applying a selective excitation to said fluid volume, d) using a signal resulting from said excitation to obtain a velocity measurement for said component, and e) repeating steps b)-d) until velocity measurements for a desired number of components have been obtained. | 05-12-2011 |
20110175608 | System for Blood Flow Velocity Determination using MR Imaging - A system improves accuracy of blood flow peak velocity measurements as well as the speed and precision of an MR data acquisition workflow. A system for blood flow velocity determination in MR imaging comprises an MR imaging system. The MR imaging system acquires a three dimensional (3D) MR imaging dataset of a patient anatomical volume of interest and a one dimensional (1D) MR imaging dataset within the volume of interest automatically aligned in response to 3D vector directional information. An image data processor derives the 3D vector directional information by, deriving velocity magnitude data using the acquired 3D MR imaging dataset, identifying maximum velocity data using the derived velocity magnitude data and transforming the identified maximum velocity data to provide the 3D vector directional information. A calculation processor uses the acquired 1D MR imaging dataset to calculate a blood flow velocity in a direction determined by the 3D vector directional information. | 07-21-2011 |
20110199082 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - 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. | 08-18-2011 |
20120001630 | DARK BLOOD BALANCED STEADY STATE FREE PRECESSION IMAGING - Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio. | 01-05-2012 |
20120092006 | Multiphase Flow Measurement Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - A method and apparatus for estimating a flow rate of a phase of a multiphase fluid is disclosed. A first velocity distribution is obtained for a first set of nuclei in the fluid from a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) signal received for the fluid in response to a first NMR excitation signal. A second velocity distribution is obtained for a second set of nuclei in the fluid from an NMR signal received for the fluid in response to a second NMR excitation signal. A velocity of the phase is estimated from the first velocity distribution and the second velocity distribution. The flow rate of the phase is estimated using the estimated velocity of the phase and an estimated volume fraction of the phase. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092007 | NMR Flow Metering Using Velocity Selection and Remote Detection - A method and apparatus for estimating a flow rate of a phase of a multiphase fluid is disclosed. In the first method, nuclei in the fluid are polarized over two distances and a measured magnetization gives the relative fraction of two components of the fluid for a selected velocity. In the second method, nuclei in the fluid are polarized over a specified distance and measurements of the decay of spin echo signals is used to give the relative fraction of two components of the fluid for the selected velocity. | 04-19-2012 |
20120268115 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING A MULTI-PHASE FLUID - A magnetic resonance based apparatus capable of measuring, without using time-of-flight measurements, flow regimes of multi-phase fluids in a pipe, comprises a magnetic resonance module through which the fluid phases flow, wherein the magnetic resonance module includes a radiofrequency coil for transmitting and detecting a signal and means for generating inside the module a homogenous constant magnetic field Bx that is thermally compensated and a transverse magnetic field gradient Gx that is superposed on Bx; and at least one pre-polarization module through which the fluid phases flow before entering the magnetic resonance module | 10-25-2012 |
20130176024 | MAGNETIZATION DEVICE FOR A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOW METER - A magnetization device for permeation of a multiphase fluid flowing through a measurement tube of a nuclear magnetic flow meter with a magnetic field which is homogenous at least in one plane, with a plurality of permanent magnets for generation of a magnetic field and with a carrier, the carrier having at least one magnet receiver, each magnet receiver accommodating at least one of the permanent magnets, the shape of the magnet receivers and of the permanent magnets allowing movement of the permanent magnets in the magnet receivers only in one direction and the permanent magnets being by the magnet receivers formed by hollow profiles. The hollow profile magnet receivers can be receiving tubes for the magnets that can be turned around their longitudinal axis or the profiles can have a rotatable adapter for the magnets so that a first shimming action can be achieved with the profiles. | 07-11-2013 |
20130249547 | Fast analysis method for non-invasive imaging of blood flow using vessel-encoded arterial spin labelling - Arterial spin labelling (ASL) MRI offers a non-invasive means to create blood-borne contrast in vivo for dynamic angiographic imaging. By spatial modulation of the ASL process it is possible to uniquely label individual arteries over a series of measurements, allowing each to be separately identified in the resulting images. This separation requires appropriate analysis for which a general framework has previously been proposed. Here the general framework is modified for fast analysis of non-invasive imaging of blood flow using vessel encoded arterial spin labelling (VE-ASL). This specifically addresses the issues of computational speed of the analysis and the robustness required to deal with real patient data. The modification applies various approaches for estimation of one or more parameters that change the way a vessel, for example an artery, is encoded to provide the fast analysis. | 09-26-2013 |
20140015526 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER - A nuclear magnetic flowmeter with a measuring tube through which a multiphase medium can flow and which can be connected to an inlet tube which is located in the flow direction of the medium upstream of the measuring tube and to an outlet tube which is located in the flow direction downstream of the measuring tube. The nuclear magnetic flowmeter is, first of all, characterized essentially in that a medium bypass is assigned to the measuring tube, that the medium bypass includes a bypass tube, an inlet valve and/or an outlet valve and that, for a calibration operation, the bypass tube, on the one hand, can be connected to the inlet tube, and on the other hand, to the outlet tube, specifically via the inlet valve, via the outlet valve or via the inlet valve and via the outlet valve. | 01-16-2014 |
20140021948 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER - A nuclear magnetic flowmeter with a measuring tube, a signal apparatus for generating signals to excite a medium flowing through the tube and/or for evaluating signals of the excited medium, at least one signal coil located on the measuring tube for sending signals from the signal apparatus and/or for receiving signals of the excited medium and a matching device between the signal apparatus and the signal coil which has a reactive adjustment object a value of which can be rotationally adjusted mechanically and an adjusting apparatus which is assigned to the adjustment object. The adjustment apparatus has a rotary final control element which influences the adjustment object, a rotary actuator which acts on the rotary final control element, a torque clutch between the rotary actuator and the rotary final control element which transmits a torque generated by the rotary actuator to the rotary final control element, and a rotary stop. | 01-23-2014 |
20140028310 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER - A magnetization device with a magnetic field which is generated by permanent magnets for variable magnetization of a medium flowing through a tube over a magnetization distance along the longitudinal axis of the tube. The magnetization device improves the quality of the results relative to known nuclear magnetic resonance measurement and analysis methods in that the magnetic field in the medium has a single direction over the magnetization distance. | 01-30-2014 |
20140043021 | SIMULTANEOUS NON-CONTRAST MR ANGIOGRAPHY AND INTRAPLAQUE HEMORRHAGE (SNAP) MR IMAGING - Magnetic resonance (MR) spins are inverted by applying an inversion recovery (IR) radio frequency pulse ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140043022 | CONTRAST ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY WITH CHEMICAL SHIFT ENCODING FOR FAT SUPPRESSION - The invention relates to a method of performing contrast enhanced first pass magnetic resonance angiography, the method comprising: acquiring ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140049257 | MEASUREMENT OF PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS USING MRI - A method of determining rheological properties of a fluid. The method includes: providing an open-bore tube and defining within the bore a three dimensional grid (3DG) of voxels; defining at least an inlet cross section (ICS) and an outlet cross section (OCS); defining a volume of interest within the bore between the ICS and the OCS; obtaining rheological properties of the fluid; applying a pressure gradient to the bore between the ICS and the OCS; and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging the fluid within the volume of interest to determine various aspects of the fluid. | 02-20-2014 |
20140077800 | MAGNETIC FIELD APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING A MAGNETIC FIELD APPARATUS - A magnetic field apparatus comprises a generator for generating a magnetic field of the magnetic field apparatus and a sensor for measuring the interaction between electrical charge carriers in an object and the magnetic field, wherein the electrical as charge carriers and the magnetic field are in relative motion to each other. The magnetic field apparatus may in particular be an MRI apparatus and the sensor may use the magnetohydrodynamic effect for deriving a cardiac trigger signal at any target area positioned off-centre to the heart. | 03-20-2014 |
20140084916 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE PHASE CONTRAST ANGIOGRAPHY WITH ROTATING CODING GRADIENTS - In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to generate an MR phase contrast angiography image of an examination subject, velocity-dependent phase information is impressed on moving spins in the examination subject by switching additional bipolar coding gradients that are in addition to the basic phase coding and readout gradients. For the creation of the MR phase contrast angiography images, the MR signals of the examination subject are read out in raw data space with a non-Cartesian acquisition pattern during a readout gradient. The additional bipolar coding gradients switched such that they proceed along a coordinate system that corresponds to the non-Cartesian acquisition pattern, and such that a coordinate axis of this coordinate system proceed along the readout gradient. | 03-27-2014 |
20140091789 | TUNNEL WATER INRUSH ADVANCE PREDICTION DEVICE USING NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE DIFFERENCE AND METHOD - An equipment and method for forecasting tunnel water inrush using a magnetic resonance differential, where a computer is connected to a transmitting bridge circuit through a high voltage power supply, to a control unit, a first and second signal modulating circuits and a multi-channel collecting circuit; the control unit is connected to a transmitting driver circuit, a first and second protection switches, and the transmitting bridge circuit through the transmitting driver circuit; two ends of a transceiving multi-turn coil are connected to the multi-channel collecting circuit through the first and second protection switches; two ends of a receiving multi-turn coil are connected to the multi-channel collecting circuit through the second protection switch and the second signal modulating circuit; one end of the transceiving multi-turn coil is connected to the transmitting bridge circuit, and the other end is connected to the transmitting bridge circuit through a resonant capacitor. | 04-03-2014 |
20140132260 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOW METER AND METHOD FOR OPERATION OF NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOW METERS - A nuclear magnetic flow meter ( | 05-15-2014 |
20140218023 | NMR FLOWMETER WITH SUPERCONDUCTING POLARIZER - A fluid flowmeter which uses nuclear magnetic resonance to determine quantities of flowing fluid(s) has a polarizing magnet system with magnets which are high temperature superconductors such as yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) or bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide (BSCCO) which are superconducting at liquid nitrogen temperature and provide a greater magnetic field strength than conventional magnets. This may allow the flowmeter to accept higher through flow rate and/or may allow observation of | 08-07-2014 |
20140266188 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER - A nuclear magnetic flowmeter is disclosed. The nuclear magnetic flowmeter includes a magnetization device located around a straight measuring tube for producing a magnetic field in a medium. The flowmeter also includes a gradient coil that produces a gradient in the field. The flowmeter further includes a signal coil that excites the medium and that detects the result of the excitation. Additionally, the flowmeter includes a coil insulating frame and a sealed housing. The housing is along a longitudinal axis of the tube and has a first face side and a second face side having openings through which the tube is routed. The magnetization device is provided in the interior of the housing. The gradient coil and the signal coil are located in a space between the tube and magnetization device that is penetrated by the field. The gradient coil and/or the signal coil are located on the frame. | 09-18-2014 |
20140347048 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING MAGNETIC RESONANCE (MR) IMAGING ACOUSTIC NOISE IN MR INFLOW IMAGING - Systems and methods for reducing acoustic noise in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One method includes applying a labeling phase of an arterial spin labeling (ASL) pulse sequence to a region of interest, applying a three-dimensional (3D) radial pulse sequence to the region of interest to generate a tag image, applying a control phase of the ASL pulse sequence to the region of interest, and applying the 3D radial pulse sequence to the region of interest to generate a control image. | 11-27-2014 |
20150028867 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING RELATIVE VELOCITY BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE - A method and system for measuring a vehicle airspeed, wherein a nuclear magnetic resonance, NMR, measurement method is used for obtaining relative velocity between the vehicle and an atmosphere surrounding the vehicle. A groove is arranged at the outside body of an aircraft and the surrounding atmosphere is allowed to pass inside the groove. A strong magnet system establishes a magnetic field with a gradient in the flow direction. The atoms passing inside the groove is exposed to an electromagnetic radiation whereby the atoms oscillate at a Lamor frequency, which is proportional to the strong magnetic field. The change in Lamor frequency along the groove is measured and is proportional to the airspeed. | 01-29-2015 |
20150323638 | NON-INVASIVE QUANTIFICATION OF CORONARY ARTERY FRACTIONAL FLOW RESERVE USING MRI - A system for quantifying a fractional flow reserve (FFR) in a mammalian subject comprises implementing a multi-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance sequence using an MRI scanner to scan a volume of interest (VOI) in the mammalian subject. The VOI comprises at least a portion of the mammalian subject's heart, one or more blood vessels, or both. A pressure gradient within a blood vessel segment of interest within the VOI is determined based on the implemented multi-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance sequence. The determined pressure gradient is correlated to an FFR value. | 11-12-2015 |
20150338256 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER - A nuclear magnetic flowmeter ( | 11-26-2015 |
20160011032 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER | 01-14-2016 |
20160076924 | FIELD CYCLING MAGNETIC RESONANCE BASED METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MEASURE AND ANALYZE FLOW PROPERTIES IN FLOWING COMPLEX FLUIDS - Field cycling magnetic resonance based method and apparatus to measure and analyze flow properties in flowing complex fluids. The method consists on: 1) polarizing NMR active spins in a magnetic field region, 2) relaxing the plurality of individual macroscopic magnetizations in a second magnetic field region of variable intensity, 3) measuring the total macroscopic magnetization in a third magnetic field region on an NMR measurement module, and 4) reading the multidimensional data matrix with a tangible computer readable medium. The apparatus consists on: 1) a first magnet with constant magnetic field intensity, 2) a second magnet with a variable magnetic field intensity and time, 3) a third magnet having radio frequency antennas and field gradient coils (NMR module), and 4) a computing digital processor. | 03-17-2016 |
20160077026 | METHOD AND AN APPARATUS TO MEASURE FLOW PROPERTIES, INCLUDING FLOW RATES, REGIME AND RELATIVE CONCENTRATIONS OF PHASES IN MULTIPHASIC FLUIDS USING NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE RELAXATION IN THE ROTATING FRAME - Rotating frame magnetic resonance based method and apparatus to measure and analyze flow properties in flowing complex fluids. The method consists on: 1) polarizing NMR active spins in a magnetic field region, 2) relaxing the plurality of individual macroscopic magnetizations in a second magnetic field region, wherein a plurality of radiofrequency pulses are irradiating said phases of said multiphasic fluid, wherein phase individual rotating frame relaxation times weight magnetization of said individual phases at said downstream end, wherein a plurality of contrast degrees between respective magnetization of individual phases, 3) measuring the total macroscopic magnetization in a third magnetic field region on an NMR measurement segment, and 4) reading the multidimensional data matrix with a tangible computer readable medium. The apparatus consists on: 1) a first magnet with constant magnetic field intensity, 2) a second magnet with variable rotating-frame pulse sequences at a plurality of radiofrequency sequences, intensity and time, 3) a third magnet having radio frequency antennas and field gradient coils (NMR module), and 4) a computing digital processor. | 03-17-2016 |
20160097664 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING VELOCITY AND COMPOSITION OF MATERIAL IN AND ADJACENT TO A BOREHOLE - This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for measuring flow in and around a borehole of an earth formation. A flow measurement device can include a magnet configured to generate a static solenoidal magnetic field with a field intensity that decreases in strength peripherally from the magnet, an electromagnet disposed around the magnet and configured to generate a time varying solenoidal magnetic field, and a radio frequency (RF) coil disposed around the magnet and configured to generate an RF magnetic field transverse to the static solenoidal magnetic field. The flow measurement device can calculate a flow velocity in and around the flow measurement device based upon a signal received by the RF coil. | 04-07-2016 |
20160153817 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER | 06-02-2016 |
20160202100 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETERS | 07-14-2016 |