Prior art — US Patent 10863950

Here is an analysis of the prior art citations for US patent 10863950, focusing on their potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The independent claims of US10863950, which define the invention, broadly cover:

Acquiring image data of a moving object over time.
Extracting information from a plurality of arrays (e.g., voxels) derived from this image data.
Generating a time-varying object motion function based on this extracted information.
Determining phase information for the object's motion using this function.
Generating motion-corrected images using the determined phase information and acquired image data.

A key distinguishing feature emphasized in US10863950's abstract and description is "retrospective internal gating," meaning motion correction derived solely from the image data itself, without external hardware, and in an automated manner, particularly using "individual voxel signal fluctuations."

The following is a list of all patents cited by US10863950, with their details and an assessment of their potential relevance as prior art.

Prior Art Citations for US10863950

1. US6144874A

Full Citation: US6144874A, "Respiratory gating method for MR imaging," General Electric Company.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2000-11-07.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for gating magnetic resonance (MR) images based on respiratory motion.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly anticipates the concept of "gating" for respiratory motion correction in medical imaging. It likely covers the general idea of acquiring image data, determining motion phases, and generating corrected images. Specific details on how motion information is derived (e.g., internal voxel fluctuation analysis) would determine the extent of anticipation of claims 1, 21, and 22.

2. US6298260B1

Full Citation: US6298260B1, "Respiration responsive gating means and apparatus and methods using the same," St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2001-10-02.
Brief Description: Describes means and methods for gating imaging based on respiration.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6144874A, this patent broadly anticipates the concept of respiratory gating for motion correction (claims 1, 21, 22). The specific "gating means" employed would dictate whether it anticipates the "internal" and "voxel fluctuation" aspects of US10863950.

3. US6501981B1

Full Citation: US6501981B1, "Apparatus and method for compensating for respiratory and patient motions during treatment," Accuray, Inc.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-12-31.
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for compensating for patient motion, including respiratory motion, particularly relevant during medical treatment.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This broadly anticipates the objective of motion compensation in medical settings (claims 1, 21, 22). The specific mechanism for detecting and compensating for motion would define the degree of anticipation.

4. US6539074B1

Full Citation: US6539074B1, "Reconstruction of multislice tomographic images from four-dimensional data," General Electric Company.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2003-03-25.
Brief Description: This patent addresses the reconstruction of tomographic images using four-dimensional (3D + time) data.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates the step of "acquiring image data corresponding to times t1...tn" and aspects of "generating at least one image" from temporal data (claims 1, 21, 22). Its relevance for anticipation depends on whether its reconstruction method implicitly or explicitly incorporates internal motion correction using the 4D data.

5. US6556695B1

Full Citation: US6556695B1, "Method for producing high resolution real-time images, of structure and function during medical procedures," Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2003-04-29.
Brief Description: Describes a method for generating high-resolution real-time images in medical procedures.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less direct anticipation of specific motion gating mechanisms. It relates to improving image quality from temporal data, which is a broader goal shared by US10863950.

6. US20040218794A1

Full Citation: US20040218794A1, "Method for processing perfusion images," Yi-Hsuan Kao.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2004-11-04.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for processing perfusion images.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is less directly related to motion correction or gating and is unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10863950.

7. US20050123183A1 (Most Relevant)

Full Citation: US20050123183A1, "Data driven motion correction for nuclear imaging," Paul Schleyer.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2005-06-09. Priority: 2003-09-02.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for "data driven motion correction" specifically for "nuclear imaging" (which includes PET, a focus of US10863950). "Data driven" strongly implies deriving motion information directly from the image data itself, aligning with US10863950's "internal gating."
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant prior art due to its earlier priority date (2003-09-02) compared to US10863950's 2007-05-04 priority date. It potentially anticipates the core steps of independent claims 1, 21, and 22, especially: "acquiring image data," "extracting information for a plurality of arrays derived from the image data," "generating a time varying object motion function based on the extracted information," "determining, using the time varying object motion function, phase information for motion," and "generating at least one image correcting for the motion" where the correction is derived internally from the data. The specific novelty of US10863950 would likely lie in its detailed algorithmic implementation, such as the use of specific weighting factors, frequency filtering, and the iterative method for synthesizing the motion function described in US10863950's specification.

8. US20070081704A1

Full Citation: US20070081704A1, "System, program product, and methods for attenuation correction of emission data on PET/CT and SPECT/CT," The University Of Texas System.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2007-04-12.
Brief Description: This patent focuses on attenuation correction in PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is directed to attenuation correction, not motion correction or gating, and thus is unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10863950.

9. US20070127797A1

Full Citation: US20070127797A1, "Methods and systems to facilitate reducing banding artifacts in images," General Electric Company.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2007-06-07.
Brief Description: This patent describes methods and systems for reducing banding artifacts in images.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While artifacts can stem from motion, this patent does not specify motion as the source of artifacts or a gating method as the solution. It is unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10863950.

10. US20070237372A1

Full Citation: US20070237372A1, "Cross-time and cross-modality inspection for medical image diagnosis," Shoupu Chen.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2007-10-11.
Brief Description: This patent relates to inspecting medical images across different times and modalities for diagnosis.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on image inspection and diagnosis rather than active motion correction by gating, making it unlikely to anticipate the core claims.

11. US7359535B2 (Most Relevant)

Full Citation: US7359535B2, "Systems and methods for retrospective internal gating," Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, Llc.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2008-04-15. Priority: 2003-06-20.
Brief Description: The title of this patent is strikingly similar to US10863950, specifically mentioning "retrospective internal gating." It has a significantly earlier priority date (2003-06-20) than US10863950 (2007-05-04).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is extremely relevant prior art and poses a substantial challenge to the novelty of US10863950. It likely anticipates all high-level elements of independent claims 1, 21, and 22, including: "acquiring image data," "extracting information... derived from the image data" (due to "internal"), "generating a time varying object motion function," "determining phase information," and "generating at least one image correcting for the motion" (due to "retrospective internal gating"). The patentability of US10863950 would heavily rely on specific, non-obvious details of the algorithmic implementation for generating the motion function from voxel data (e.g., the specific weighting factors, filtering techniques, and the iterative optimization process illustrated in FIG. 3 of US10863950).

12. US20080226149A1

Full Citation: US20080226149A1, "Motion Compensation in Functional Imaging," Hans-Aloys Wischmann.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2008-09-18.
Brief Description: This patent addresses motion compensation in the context of functional imaging.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Its publication date is after US10863950's priority date. To be prior art, its priority date must be earlier than 2007-05-04. If so, it broadly anticipates motion compensation, but its specific method would determine detailed anticipation.

13. US20080253636A1

Full Citation: US20080253636A1, "Respiratory motion extraction from tomographic projection and image data," Deller Timothy W.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2008-10-16.
Brief Description: This patent focuses on extracting respiratory motion directly from tomographic projection and image data. This is very pertinent to US10863950's approach.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This publication date is after US10863950's priority date. However, it is a continuation of an application that matured into US8229187B2 (listed below), which has an earlier priority date.

14. US20090076369A1

Full Citation: US20090076369A1, "Method For Reducing Motion Artifacts In Highly Constrained Medical Images," Mistretta Charles A.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-03-19.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for reducing motion artifacts in medical images.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Its publication date is after US10863950's priority date. If its priority date is earlier than 2007-05-04, it broadly anticipates the goal of motion artifact reduction.

15. US7574249B2 (Most Relevant)

Full Citation: US7574249B2, "Device-less gating of physiological movement for improved image detection," General Electric Company.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-08-11. Priority: 2005-02-08.
Brief Description: This patent describes "device-less gating of physiological movement" (e.g., respiration) to improve image detection. "Device-less" directly corresponds to US10863950's emphasis on "without external hardware" and "internal" derivation of motion.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant prior art due to its earlier priority date (2005-02-08). It strongly anticipates the "internal" or "device-less" aspect of motion correction by gating, covering the general steps of claims 1, 21, and 22 related to acquiring image data, extracting motion information without external devices, determining phase, and generating corrected images. Similar to US7359535B2, the specific methods for deriving the "time varying object motion function" from image data (e.g., voxel weighting, filtering, iterative combination) would be crucial for distinguishing US10863950.

16. US20090290774A1

Full Citation: US20090290774A1, "Dynamic computed tomography imaging," Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-11-26.
Brief Description: This patent relates to dynamic computed tomography imaging.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Its publication date is after US10863950's priority date. If its priority date is earlier than 2007-05-04, it might broadly anticipate aspects of acquiring temporal image data.

17. US20090299184A1

Full Citation: US20090299184A1, "Imaging or communications system utilizing multisample apodization and method," Walker William F.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-12-03.
Brief Description: This patent concerns signal processing techniques (apodization) in imaging or communication systems.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is generally unrelated to motion correction or gating and is unlikely to anticipate the core claims.

18. US7734078B2

Full Citation: US7734078B2, "System and method for generating composite substraction images for magnetic resonance imaging," Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2010-06-08.
Brief Description: This patent relates to generating subtraction images in MRI, which can be used to visualize changes but is not directly a motion gating method.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to directly anticipate the gating claims of US10863950.

19. US7756307B2 (Most Relevant)

Full Citation: US7756307B2, "Method of, and software for, conducting motion correction for a tomographic scanner," Hammersmith Imanet Limited.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2010-07-13. Priority: 2003-10-17.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method and software for motion correction specifically for a tomographic scanner. It has an earlier priority date (2003-10-17).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant prior art. It broadly anticipates the concept of software-based motion correction for tomographic imaging, encompassing the high-level steps of claims 1, 21, and 22. The extent of anticipation of "internal" motion derivation and the specific methods for generating the "time varying object motion function" would depend on the detailed content of this patent.

20. US20100183206A1

Full Citation: US20100183206A1, "Adjusting acquisition protocols for dynamic medical imaging using dynamic models," Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2010-07-22.
Brief Description: This patent deals with adjusting acquisition protocols in dynamic medical imaging.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is more focused on controlling the imaging acquisition process rather than retrospective image-based motion correction, making it unlikely to anticipate the core claims of US10863950.

21. US9814431B2

Full Citation: US9814431B2, "Methods and systems for retrospective internal gating," Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2017-11-14. Priority: 2007-05-04.
Brief Description: This patent shares the identical title, assignee, and priority date (2007-05-04) as US10863950.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a member of the same patent family as US10863950, likely an earlier granted patent from the same originating invention. Therefore, it does not act as anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 in the sense of disclosing a separate, earlier invention. Instead, it represents a related, earlier grant to the same inventor/assignee for similar subject matter. The differences between its claims and US10863950's claims would define the scope of protection for each.

22. US8229187B2 (Most Relevant)

Full Citation: US8229187B2, "Respiratory motion extraction from tomographic projection and image data," General Electric Company.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2012-07-24. Priority: 2007-04-11.
Brief Description: This patent specifically describes extracting "respiratory motion" directly from "tomographic projection and image data." Its priority date (2007-04-11) is earlier than US10863950's priority date (2007-05-04).
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is highly relevant prior art. It directly anticipates the steps of "acquiring image data," "extracting information... derived from the image data" (specifically respiratory motion from tomographic data), and "generating a time varying object motion function" (implicitly, to extract motion) as defined in claims 1, 21, and 22. It also implies the determination of phase information and subsequent image correction. The specific algorithmic details regarding voxel weighting, frequency filtering, and the iterative selection process for building the motion function, as detailed in US10863950, would be critical for differentiating its claims from this prior art.

23. US10117625B2

Full Citation: US10117625B2, "Methods and systems for retrospective internal gating," Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2018-11-06. Priority: 2007-05-04.
Brief Description: This patent shares the identical title, assignee, and priority date (2007-05-04) as US10863950.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As with US9814431B2, this is a family member of US10863950 and does not act as anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

24. US10448903B2

Full Citation: US10448903B2, "Methods and systems for retrospective internal gating," Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2019-10-22. Priority: 2007-05-04.
Brief Description: This patent also shares the identical title, assignee, and priority date (2007-05-04) as US10863950. The provided text indicates US10863950 is a continuation of the application that resulted in this patent.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As with the other family members, this does not act as anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Most Relevant Prior Art Summary

The most relevant prior art for US patent 10863950, based on direct overlap in subject matter and earlier priority dates, are:

US20050123183A1 ("Data driven motion correction for nuclear imaging"): Anticipates data-driven/internal motion correction for nuclear imaging.
US7359535B2 ("Systems and methods for retrospective internal gating"): Directly anticipates the core concept of retrospective internal gating.
US7574249B2 ("Device-less gating of physiological movement for improved image detection"): Directly anticipates device-less/internal gating of physiological movement.
US7756307B2 ("Method of, and software for, conducting motion correction for a tomographic scanner"): Anticipates software-based motion correction for tomographic scanners.
US8229187B2 ("Respiratory motion extraction from tomographic projection and image data"): Directly anticipates extracting respiratory motion from image data.

These five patents collectively demonstrate that the concepts of "internal," "device-less," "retrospective" motion correction and "gating" in medical imaging, including deriving motion information from image data itself, were known prior to the priority date of US10863950. The novelty of US10863950's independent claims (1, 21, and 22) would therefore likely reside in the specific, detailed algorithmic steps described for how the "time varying object motion function" is generated from the extracted information, such as the use of array-specific weighting factors (claims 3, 4, 6, 15), filtering in frequency space (claim 8), and the iterative process of combining individual array information and choosing the scenario with the highest standard deviation (claim 14).