William H Dixon

US Patent:

6586933, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

May 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063804

Inventors:

Christopher Judson Hardy - Niskayuna NY
William Thomas Dixon - Clifton Park NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01V 300

US Classification:

324307, 324309

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for acquiring images with water and lipid separation using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising applying a plurality of steady-state free precession (SSFP) radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses having respective amplitudes that correspond substantially to a binomial distribution to discriminate lipids from water.

US Patent:

6608479, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

May 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063805

Inventors:

William Thomas Dixon - Clifton Park NY
Christopher Judson Hardy - Niskayuna NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01V 300

US Classification:

324307, 324314

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for acquiring images with water and lipid separation using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising applying a plurality of steady-state free precession (SSFP) radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses to discriminate lipids from water, the pulses having respective inter-pulse gaps between the pulses, the inter-pulse gaps varying among different widths.

US Patent:

6914428, Jul 5, 2005

Filed:

Aug 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/219883

Inventors:

William Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US
Daniel Blezek - Niskayuna NY, US
Paritosh Dhawale - Selkirk NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G01V003/00

US Classification:

324307

Abstract:

Magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) systems and methods for acquiring multi-slice gradient echo images having a substantially constant T-weighting including selecting a first scan having a desired contrast associated with T-weighting and, given a first repetition time, TR, and a first flip angle, flip, associated with the first scan, selecting an effective repetition time, TReff, that provides the desired contrast. The MRI systems and methods also including holding the effective repetition time, TReff, substantially constant in relation to a second scan. The MRI systems and methods further including, given a second repetition time, TR, determining a second flip angle, flip, and, given the second flip angle, flip, determining the second repetition time, TR. The MRI systems and methods still further including performing the second scan using the second repetition time, TR, and the second flip angle, flip, and maximizing a signal-to-noise ratio, S/N, of the second scan.

US Patent:

7009395, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

May 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063807

Inventors:

William Thomas Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US
Christopher Judson Hardy - Niskayuna NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324309, 324307

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for acquiring images using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method comprises the step of applying a plurality of steady-state free precession (SSFP) radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a selected pattern of varying amplitudes and phases such that signals corresponding to the pattern of pulses are substantially immune to magnetic field inhomogeneity of the MRI system. The pulses have substantially equal spacing between all neighboring pulses and between successive groups of pulses. The method further comprises the step of reading a plurality of signals corresponding to the pulses.

US Patent:

7099499, Aug 29, 2006

Filed:

Aug 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/219637

Inventors:

Daniel Blezek - Niskayuna NY, US
Paritosh Dhawale - Selkirk NY, US
William Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382128, 382130

Abstract:

Systems and methods for identifying the relative contribution of fat and water signals in a magnetic resonance (“MR”) image including an algorithm operable for selecting an image signal model, selecting a scan parameter, forming a bias field estimate, applying a bias correction to a phase image, estimating the signal fraction of fat and water at each of a plurality of voxels, and forming a fat-suppressed image, a water-suppressed image, or a combination of a fat-based image and a water-based image. The (“MRI”) fat suppression systems and methods requiring only a single image acquisition including an algorithm operable for selecting a relative phase of approximately θ=π/2 or another suitable relative phase, employing an expectation maximization algorithm to classify the phase of the complex image, and projecting complex vectors into fat and water components to obtain fat and water images.

US Patent:

8049501, Nov 1, 2011

Filed:

Apr 8, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/420098

Inventors:

Ileana Hancu - Clifton Park NY, US
Joseph Edward Piel - Scotia NY, US
William Thomas Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324318

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

8232801, Jul 31, 2012

Filed:

Jun 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/174488

Inventors:

Nilesh Tralshawala - Rexford NY, US
Thomas Alan Early - Clifton Park NY, US
William Thomas Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US
Waseem Ibrahim Faidi - Schenectady NY, US
Thomas Miebach - Ballston Spa NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324310

Abstract:

Structural health monitoring using nuclear quadrupole resonance is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a method of monitoring stress is provided. The method includes scanning a composite using an NQR spectrometer, the composite having a polymer matrix and a microcrystalline material disposed in the matrix. The microcrystalline material includes molecules having nuclei with respective nuclear quadrupole moments. The method also includes determining microscopic strain distribution indices of the composite from the NQR scans to quantify stress and identify precursors to failure in the composite.

US Patent:

20040265235, Dec 30, 2004

Filed:

Jun 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/609269

Inventors:

Egidijus Uzgiris - Niskayuna NY, US
Mohan Amaratunga - Clifton Park NY, US
William Dixon - Clifton Park NY, US
Paritosh Dhawale - Brookfield WI, US
Ahmad Ishague - Green Island NY, US

International Classification:

A61K049/00

US Classification:

424/009322

Abstract:

Magnetic resonance (“MR”) contrast-enhancing agents comprise poly(amino acid) backbone chain conjugated to chelating moieties that comprise a plurality of carboxylic acid groups that form coordination complexes with paramagnetic ions. A method for detecting atherosclerotic plaque areas comprises administering at least one of these contrast agents into a subject; and obtaining and comparing MR images of and MR signals from the plaque areas before and after administering the contrast agent. The method can be used to assess an effectiveness of a prescribed course of treatment for atherosclerosis.