General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Joseph Edward Piel, Jr

Lowell Scott Smith

Jiayu Chen

Dag Jordfald

Jon Ronander

Karl Jonsberg

Jonathan Edvard Snyder

Ronald Dean Watkins

Charles W Eichelberger

Charles L Dumoulin

Marshall Gordon Jones

William Thomas Hatfield

Kenneth William Rohling

Robert Stephen Lewandowski

Ricardo Scott Avila

Ileana Hancu

Boris Yamrom

Seung-Kyun Lee

Eric William Fiveland

Bruce David Collick

Randy Otto John Giaquinto

William Thomas Dixon

Douglas Arthur Kelley

Brady Andrew Jones

Jerry T Harrison

Robert J Wojnarowksi

Charles John Rossi, Jr

Wiliam P Kornrumpf

A magnetic resonance imaging system is disclosed. The magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnet core that generates a magnetic field including a plurality of magnetic field lines. The magnetic resonance imaging system also includes a plurality of gradient coils disposed along the magnet core and a plurality of gradient amplifiers. Further, the magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of bus-bar conductors coupling a corresponding gradient coil of the plurality of gradient coils and a corresponding gradient amplifier of the plurality of gradient amplifiers. The plurality of bus-bar conductors is disposed along at least one of a first path extending along the plurality of magnetic field lines and a second path extending along a substantially linear direction from the corresponding gradient coil to a fringe region of the magnetic field to reduce an effect of Lorentz force on the plurality of bus-bar conductors.

Magnetic resonance imaging system and an associated method thereof

A multi-frequency imaging radio frequency (RF) coil operational at three or more different frequencies, with a shifting frequency loop structure proximate the coil and switchably coupled to provide different frequencies when the loop structure is coupled to the coil. In one embodiment one of the frequencies is a proton frequency, one is a sodium frequency, and one of the frequencies is a carbon frequency. One example involves imaging examinations using hyperpolarized compounds.

Multi-frequency RF coil

A control system comprising a driver circuit for magnetic systems is provided. The driver circuit is coupled to a magnetic system and is configured for isolating control signals from electromagnetic interference. The control signals are configured for controlling a plurality of switching elements in the magnetic system. The driver circuit and the magnetic system are located in shielded environment.

Method and apparatus for driver circuits for use in magnetic systems

An incubator arrangement and radiofrequency (RF) coil are provided for use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system. The incubator arrangement comprises an enclosure adapted to support a subject in a magnet of the MRI system during imaging and a radiofrequency coil disposed within the enclosure. The RF coil is adapted to provide visual and physical access to the subject, and further adapted to obtain a selected signal to noise ratio.

Apparatus for use in neonatal magnetic resonance imaging

A multiplane transesophageal probe ( ) includes a transducer ( ) and a handle ( ). The handle incorporates a control ( ) mounting switches ( ). The switches and control panel are covered with foil ( ). A seal ( ) couples the control panel and foil to the handle.

Transesophageal probe with improved control panel

A combined acoustic backing and interconnect module for connecting an array of ultrasonic transducer elements to a multiplicity of conductors of a cable utilizes the backing layer volume to extend a high density of interconnections perpendicular to the transducer array surface. The module is made by injecting flowable backfill material into a mold made up of a plurality of spacer plates having aligned channels, with interleaved flexible circuit boards. The backfill material is cured to form a backing layer which supports the flexible circuit boards in mutually parallel relationship. Excess flexible circuit material on one side of the backing layer is cut flush with the front face of the backing layer, leaving exposed ends of the conductive traces on the flexible circuit boards. The module is then laminated to a piezoelectric ceramic layer, and diced. The flexible circuit board conductive traces are aligned with, and electrically connected to, signal electrodes of the transducer elements. The other ends of the conductive traces on a fanout portion of the flexible circuit board are connected to the cable.

Method for manufacturing combined acoustic backing and interconnect module for ultrasonic array

G.E. DOCKET NUMBER 15-DS-00536A system and method for measuring a position of an imaging element located within a scanhead of an imaging probe, such as transesophageal ultrasound probe, is provided. The imaging probe may be used in a medical imaging system and/or a three-dimensional imaging system. The probe includes an articulating portion having a scanhead. The scanhead includes an imaging element, such as a transducer, and a position sensor positioned within the scanhead. Preferably, the position sensor is connected to the imaging element via an axle. Therefore, the rotation of the position sensor is synchronized to the rotation of the imaging element. The location of the position sensor within the imaging element provides accurate measurement of the position of the imaging element. The position sensor preferably includes a code disk having apertures and a system of light emitters and detectors. As the code disk rotates in synchronization with the imaging element, the pattern of detection of light through the apertures measures the position of the imaging element. Various alternative position sensors, such as potentiometers, may be utilized within the scanhead of the probe. The probe also includes a control handle having imaging and articulation controls.

Transesophageal ultrasound probe with imaging element position sensor in scanhead

A transesophageal ultrasound probe allowing for scan-plane rotation comprises an endoscope with a probe head connected to the distal end of the endoscope. A transducer is secured to the probe head. A transfer mechanism is connected to the transducer. A motor at the distal end of the endoscope is connected to the transfer mechanism. Finally, an electrical wire is connected to the motor. The transesophageal ultrasound probe uses a motor in the tip of the transesophageal ultrasound probe for scan-plane rotation.

Transesophageal ultrasound probe with motor in the tip for scan-plane rotation

The axis of rotational transducer array scans, because of imperfect transducer array assembly, may have two orthogonal offsets relative to the geometric center of the transducer array. Without knowledge of these offsets, it is not possible to convert rotational transducer scan data into a rectilinear (Euclidean) coordinate system, as is necessary for three-dimensional processing. Using spatial coherency between appropriate scan lines in different rotational transducer scans, the horizontal and vertical rotational offsets are calculated. These offsets are then utilized in converting the data to a rectilinear coordinate system for three-dimensional processing.

Method and apparatus for calibrating rotational offsets in ultrasound transducer scans

This invention relates to soldering systems of the type that provide localized soldering through the use of lasers. Such structures of this type generally allow flexible printed circuit boards to be locally soldered to metallized ceramic substrates. These structures have applications in such areas as ultrasound equipment.

Holder for soldering a flexible circuit board to a substrate

A piezoelectric ultrasonic array transducer has its individual elements connected to external electronics via a high density interconnect structure which facilitates signal connection and uniformity from array-to-array. The array fabrication process is preferably modified for use with a high density interconnect structure in order to obtain maximum transducer quality.

Ultrasonic array with a high density of electrical connections

An ultrasonic imaging system probe with an even-number of transducer elements, has a transformer for coupling the received signal from each transducer to an associated cable. The polling of the transformer primary windings are identical while the polling of the secondary windings of the transformer alternate, i.e. are reversed for all even-numbered channels, with respect to odd-numbered channels. All odd channel outputs are conected to a first signal bus, while all even channel outputs are connected to a second signal bus. The signal busses are connected to inputs of a differential-input amplifier, having an output which provides the sum of all channel transducer outputs, with suppression of any common-mode signal appearing in the system from the channel transformer secondary windings to the differential amplifier inputs.

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Scotia, NY, United States of America

Joseph Edward Piel, Jr