General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Edward Emaci

Brandon Allan Smith

Michael John Utschig

Ron Kent Hockersmith

Sergio Lemaitre

David Leo McDaniel

Chad Allan Smith

Kanjimpuredathil Muralikrishna Menon

Gary McBroom

Richard Michael Roffers

Kenwood Dayton

Anton Max Linz

Andrew Marconnet

Jason Lee Philps

Evan Michael Lampe

Mike Hebert

Rajeev Sahu

Alex Ryan

Steven Thiel

Shankar Murthy Udupa

Carey Shawn Rogers

Gregory Alan Steinlage

Mark Alan Frontera

Ian Strider Hunt

Michael Scott Hebert

Vance Scott Robinson

Yun Zou

Donald Robert Allen

Thomas Dean Schaefer

Wayne Frederick Block

Michael William Gorrilla

Richard Brogan

Hinhsomchay Gnao Phouybanhdyt

Alexander Ryan

James Dodge

Eric Matthew Plate

Sandhya Abhivandana Dammu

Michael James Calloway

Srdjan Acimovic

Systems and methods are provided for increasing installation efficiency and high voltage stability of high voltage connector of a medical imaging system. In one embodiment, a high voltage connector for a medical imaging system comprises a generator side interface configured to couple to a high voltage generator, a tube side interface configured to couple to an X-ray tube, and an insulated conductor flexibly coupling the generator side interface and the tube side interface, wherein the generator side interface is positionable in an installation position and an operational position.

Systems and methods for a high voltage connector assembly for a medical imaging device

A system for passive thermal control of an X-ray tube is provided. The system includes an X-ray tube having an electron beam target and including a rotary bearing assembly supporting the electron beam target in rotation. The rotary bearing assembly includes a stationary shaft and a bearing sleeve configured to rotate with respect to the stationary shaft during operation of the X-ray tube. The rotary bearing assembly also includes a first coolant flow path extending through a center of the stationary shaft and a second coolant flow path disposed through a radially inward portion of the stationary shaft disposed about the center of the stationary shaft. The rotary bearing assembly further includes a flow control valve configured to passively regulate flow of coolant through the second coolant flow path based on a pressure of the coolant.

Passive thermal control of x-ray tubes

A pair of straight or angularly oriented flat emitters formed of an electron emissive material are positioned on an emitter support structure and are electrically connected to one another regardless of the mounting structure on which the emitters are positioned. The electrical connections between the emitters are formed directly between the emitters using electrically conductive material members that are placed between and affixed to the emitters to provide the electrical pathway or connection therebetween the emitters after formation of the emitters. These electrical connection members form an electrical connection between the angled pair of emitters separately from an emitter support structure on the cathode, such that the electrical connection members and angled emitters including the connection members can separate the mechanical architecture of the cathode assembly from the electrical architecture, thereby creating a simplified construction for the cathode assembly and associated x-ray tubes.

Cathode emitter to emitter attachment system and method

A PET-MRI apparatus includes a patient support assembly having a cradle to accommodate a subject, a carriage assembly to attach to the cradle and cause the cradle to selectively travel, and a rear bridge to receive the cradle and carriage. The patient support assembly also includes a front bridge to receive the cradle and carriage assembly and provide for translation therealong, with the front bridge including a first section and a second section that is spaced apart from the first section to form a gap in the front bridge between the first section and the second section in an area adjacent a PET detector array of the PET-MRI apparatus. The front and rear bridges include an anti-tip rail assembly to interact with the cradle and the carriage assembly so as to prevent tipping thereof when traversing over the gap between the first and second sections of the front bridge.

Split bridge for PET-MR scanner

A support structure and an imaging component are provided in an imaging system. The imaging component comprises a port extension that frames an opening for x-ray emission. The support structure comprises a recess for receiving the port extension, the recess also framing an opening for x-ray transmission. The imaging system may be a computed tomography (CT) imaging system, x-ray diagnostic system, or other imaging system.

Interface for gantry and component

A flat emitter for uses within an x-ray tube is formed of an electron emissive material that includes one or more stress compensation features capable of reducing the total stress in the flat emitter due to thermal expansion and/or centrifugal acceleration force. The one or more stress compensation features of the flat emitter for reducing the total stress in the flat emitter are formed directly on the flat emitter, are formed on the support structure for the flat emitter and connected to the flat emitter, or a combination thereof.

Flat emitters with stress compensation features

A structure and method of operation of a journal bearing is disclosed that minimizes contact of the shaft with the sleeve during start up and slow down of rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve, or vice versa. The bearing assembly includes a gravitational load reduction mechanism with magnets disposed on the sleeve and on the shaft in alignment with one another. The magnet(s) on the shaft interacts with the magnet(s) disposed on the sleeve to provide a force against the pressure of the shaft towards the sleeve generated by gravity on the rotating component. The magnets enable centering of the rotating component within the stationary component during low rotation and non-rotation. This prevents rubbing of the rotating journal bearing component surfaces, e.g., sleeve, against the stationary journal bearing component, e.g., shaft, during assembly, ramp-up, and coast-down when the journal bearing fluid provides minimal or no bearing centering capability.

Magnetic support for journal bearing operation at low and zero speeds

X-ray generator tube for a medical imaging device

A connector pin assembly configured to engage an electrical interface. The connector pin assembly comprises a conductive outer cylinder configured to be connected to a power supply that supplies current or voltage; a conductive inner cylinder located at least partially within the outer cylinder; and a biasing member disposed within the inner cylinder. The connector pin assembly further comprises a conductive plunger slidably disposed within and engaged with the inner cylinder and the biasing member; a non-conductive member disposed within the inner cylinder, the non-conductive member operable to restrict a current or voltage flowing through the connector pin along a path from the outer cylinder through the inner cylinder to the plunger without contacting the biasing member.

Current restrictive spring-loaded electrical connection device

In the present invention, a connector pin assembly for a high voltage (hv) connector used to connect a high voltage (hv) power supply to a cathode assemble of an X-ray tube is provided. The pin connector assembly includes a conductive outer cylinder adapted to be connected to a hv power supply, a conductive inner cylinder located at least partially within the outer cylinder, a biasing member disposed within the inner cylinder, a conductive plunger slidably disposed within and engaged with the inner cylinder and the biasing member and a non-conductive member disposed within the inner cylinder, the non-conductive member operable to restrict a current flowing through the connector pin along a path from the outer cylinder through the inner cylinder to the plunger, without contacting the biasing member.

A stand-alone MR or hybrid PET-MR imaging system incorporating a surface stationary RF coil structure is disclosed. The imaging system includes a support assembly comprising a cradle to accommodate a subject and a bridge to receive the cradle and provide for translation therealong to enable an acquisition of imaging data. An RF coil structure is positioned between the bridge and the cradle, and includes a base portion, a cover portion, and an array of RF coil elements positioned on the cover portion. The cover portion includes contoured features that enable placement of RF coil elements in proximity to a subject and to provide a constant and uniform gap between the RF elements and the cradle. The RF coil structure also includes structural elements that support the cradle when rolling over the array of RF coil elements without deforming the RF coil elements.

Surface stationary array coil structure for multi-modality imaging

A radio frequency (RF) body coil assembly includes a coil support structure including an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member disposed radially outwardly from the inner tubular member, and a structural material disposed between the inner and outer tubular members, an RF coil mounted to an inner surface of the coil support structure, and a positron emission tomography (PET) detector assembly mounted to an outer surface of the coil support structure. A dual-modality imaging system is also described.

Radio frequency (RF) body coil assembly for dual-modality imaging

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, WI, United States of America

Edward Emaci