Ronald Francis Grazioso from Cape Coral, FL, age 82

Us Patents

High-Resolution Depth-Of-Interaction Pet Detector
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US Patent:

7601963, Oct 13, 2009
Filed:

Jul 30, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/830342
Inventors:

Mehmet Aykac - Knoxville TN, US
Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/20
US Classification:

25037011, 250367, 250368
Abstract:

A depth of interaction-sensitive crystal scintillation detector features crystal types that alternate in three-dimensional checkerboard fashion, each type having a different crystal decay time. One or more photosensors are disposed on each of at least two orthogonal surfaces. The scintillation detector provides improved depth of interaction resolution. The different crystal types are identified by pulse shape discrimination processing.

Method And Apparatus For Providing Depth-Of-Interaction Detection Using Positron Emission Tomography (Pet)
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US Patent:

7737407, Jun 15, 2010
Filed:

Jul 3, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/772909
Inventors:

Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Mehmet Aykac - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/166
G01T 1/20
US Classification:

25036304, 250366
Abstract:

A detector is provided for nuclear medicine imaging. Scintillator pixels form an axial array and a transaxial array. A first photosensor is positioned along the axial array; and a second photosensor is positioned along the transaxial array, wherein the first photosensor and the second photosensor provide dual event localization for nuclear medicine imaging.

Implementation Of Wavelength Shifters In Phoswich Detectors
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US Patent:

8115173, Feb 14, 2012
Filed:

Apr 28, 2008
Appl. No.:

12/110554
Inventors:

Lars A. Eriksson - Oak Ridge TN, US
Charles L. Melcher - Oak Ridge TN, US
Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/20
G01T 1/00
US Classification:

250367, 2504861
Abstract:

A phoswich device for determining depth of interaction (DOI) includes a wavelength shifting layer between first and second scintillators of different scintillation materials and having different decay time characteristics. The wavelength shifting layer allows a true phoswich device to be constructed where the emission wavelength of one scintillator is in the peak excitation band of the other scintillator, by shifting the scintillation light outside of this excitation band to prevent scintillation light of one scintillator from exciting a response in the other scintillator, thus enabling unique identification of the location of a gamma photon scintillation event. The phoswich device is particularly applicable to positron emission tomography (PET) applications.

Implementation Of Colored Wavelength Shifters In Phoswich Detectors
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US Patent:

8148697, Apr 3, 2012
Filed:

Sep 29, 2009
Appl. No.:

12/569217
Inventors:

Florian Bauer - Erlangen, DE
Lars A. Eriksson - Oak Ridge TN, US
Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Charles L. Melcher - Oak Ridge TN, US
Harold E. Rothfuss - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/20
US Classification:

25037011, 25037008, 25037009
Abstract:

A phoswich device for determining depth of interaction (DOI) includes a first scintillator having a first scintillation decay time characteristic, a second scintillator having a second scintillation decay time characteristic substantially equal to the first scintillation decay time, a photodetector coupled to the second scintillator, and a wavelength shifting layer coupled between the first scintillator and the second scintillator, wherein the wavelength shifting layer modifies the first scintillation decay time characteristic of the first scintillator to enable the photodetector to differentiate between the first decay time characteristic and the second decay time characteristic. The phoswich device is particularly applicable to positron emission tomography (PET) applications.

High Density, Proportional-Mode, Apd Arrays For Individual Scintillator Readout In Pet Applications
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US Patent:

8247780, Aug 21, 2012
Filed:

Nov 10, 2010
Appl. No.:

12/943164
Inventors:

Nan Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Debora Henseler - Erlangen, DE
Matthias J. Schmand - Lenoir City TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Munich
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/20
US Classification:

25037011
Abstract:

The present invention is a photodetector including improved photosensors configured of an array of small (sub-millimeter) high-density avalanche photodiode cells utilized to readout a single scintillator. Each photosensor comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes cells arranged in an (n×n) array of avalanche photodiode cells (where, n>1) that are coupled to a single scintillation crystal. The overall (n×n) array area as the photosensor is the same as the area of a face of the scintillator and each avalanche photodiode cell has a surface area that is not greater than one square millimeter. The photosensor is also configured to facilitate reading the output of each avalanche photodiode cell in the array. By reading out each small avalanche photodiode cell independently, the noise and capacitance are minimized and thereby provide a more accurate determination of energy and timing.

Sipm Photosensor With Early Signal Digitization
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US Patent:

8476571, Jul 2, 2013
Filed:

Oct 6, 2010
Appl. No.:

12/898771
Inventors:

Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Debora Henseler - Erlangen, DE
Mathias J. Schmand - Lenoir City TN, US
Nan Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Munich
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

H01J 40/14
G01T 1/20
US Classification:

250214R, 25037011
Abstract:

The present invention is a Silicon PhotoMulitplier comprising a plurality of photon detection cell clusters each comprising a plurality of avalanche photodiodes connected in parallel, so that the output of each avalanche photodiode is summed together and applied to a cell cluster output. Each of the plurality of cell cluster outputs is connected to one of a plurality of cluster readout circuits, each of which includes an analog to digital converter that converts an analog representation of the total energy received by a photon detection cell cluster to a digital energy signal. A SiPM Pixel reader circuit is connected to the plurality of cluster readout circuits and configured to generate an overall pixel output by digital processing the plurality of digital energy signals received from the plurality of photon detection cell clusters by way of the plurality of cluster readout circuits. The SIPM pixel reader circuit also receives digital signals representative of timing triggers and the total energy received by a specific photon detection cell cluster and generates an overall SiPM energy signal and overall timing trigger in response to the signals received from the plurality of cluster readout circuits.

Mr-Compatible Blood Sampling System For Pet Imaging Applications In Combined Pet/Mr Imaging System
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US Patent:

20090108206, Apr 30, 2009
Filed:

Oct 29, 2008
Appl. No.:

12/260966
Inventors:

Johannes Breuer - Dortmund, DE
Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
James Corbeil - Knoxville TN, US
Nan Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Matthias J. Schmand - Lenoir City TN, US
Assignee:

SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC. - Malvern PA
International Classification:

G01T 1/164
G01V 3/00
US Classification:

25036303, 324309
Abstract:

An automated blood sampling system for PET imaging applications that can be operated in or very near to the field of view (FOV) of an MR scanner, such as in a combined MR/PET imaging system. A radiation detector uses APDs (avalanche photo-diodes) to collect scintillation light from crystals in which the positron-electron annihilation photons are absorbed. The necessary gamma shielding is made from a suitable shielding material, preferably tungsten polymer composite. Because the APDs are quite small and are magnetically insensitive, they can be operated in the strong magnetic field of an MR apparatus without disturbance.

Systems And Methods For Calibrating A Silicon Photomultiplier-Based Positron Emission Tomography System
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US Patent:

20100065746, Mar 18, 2010
Filed:

Sep 15, 2009
Appl. No.:

12/560054
Inventors:

Ronald Grazioso - Knoxville TN, US
Debora Henseler - Erlangen, DE
Nan Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Assignee:

Siemens Corporation - Iselin NJ
International Classification:

G01T 1/161
G01T 1/166
US Classification:

25036304, 25036309
Abstract:

A representative positron emission tomography (PET) system includes a positron emission tomography detector having one or more silicon photomultipliers that output silicon photomultipliers signals. The PET system further includes a calibration system that is electrically coupled to the silicon photomultipliers. The calibration system determines a single photoelectron response of the silicon photomultipliers signals and adjusts a gain of the silicon photomultipliers based on the single photoelectron response.