Prior art — US Patent 9814431

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9814431, I will examine the patent citations listed within the patent itself. Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, a claim is anticipated if every element of the claimed invention is disclosed, either specifically or inherently, by a single prior art reference, arranged in substantially the same manner as in the claim under review. Prior art must have existed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

The effective filing date for US9814431B2 is May 4, 2007 (priority date).

Here are the patent citations listed in US9814431B2, along with their details and potential anticipation:

Cited References:

US6144874A
- Full Citation: US6144874A - Respiratory gating method for MR imaging
- Publication Date: 2000-11-07
- Priority Date: 1998-10-15
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method for respiratory gating in Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging. It involves acquiring MR data over several respiratory cycles, determining the respiratory phase for each acquisition based on signals from the imaging process itself (e.g., diaphragm motion), and then reconstructing images by grouping data from similar respiratory phases. This method aims to reduce motion artifacts without external respiratory transducers.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6144874A appears highly relevant to the concept of "retrospective internal gating" and "generating at least one motion corrected image" from internally derived motion signals. It specifically addresses using image data to determine respiratory motion and then reconstructing images based on phases of that motion. Claims 1, 21, and 22, particularly the steps related to acquiring images, identifying cyclical signals, correlating times with motion phases, and generating motion-corrected images, could be potentially anticipated by this reference. The use of "voxel time-activity information" to create a "time varying object motion function" might be a distinguishing feature, but the core idea of internal retrospective gating for respiratory motion is present.
US6298260B1
- Full Citation: US6298260B1 - Respiration responsive gating means and apparatus and methods using the same
- Publication Date: 2001-10-02
- Priority Date: 1998-02-25
- Brief Description: This patent describes a respiration-responsive gating apparatus and method, primarily focused on radiotherapy. It involves using an electromagnetic tracking system to monitor the position of internal organs (e.g., lungs) and gating radiation treatment based on the detected respiratory motion. While it deals with motion correction related to respiration, it relies on an external tracking system rather than deriving motion directly from image voxel signals for retrospective gating.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to directly anticipate the core claims of US9814431B2 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 due to its reliance on an external tracking system. Claims 1, 21, and 22 of US9814431B2 emphasize "extracting time-activity information for individual voxels" and creating a motion function "from many voxels' time-activity values," which implies an internal, image-based derivation of motion.
US6501981B1
- Full Citation: US6501981B1 - Apparatus and method for compensating for respiratory and patient motions during treatment
- Publication Date: 2002-12-31
- Priority Date: 1999-03-16
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for compensating for patient motion, specifically respiratory motion, during medical procedures such as radiation therapy. It uses external sensors (e.g., infrared tracking) to monitor patient motion and adjust the treatment delivery accordingly.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6298260B1, this patent relies on external motion detection, which distinguishes it from the "internal gating" aspect of US9814431B2's claims. Therefore, it is less likely to directly anticipate claims 1, 21, and 22.
US6539074B1
- Full Citation: US6539074B1 - Reconstruction of multislice tomographic images from four-dimensional data
- Publication Date: 2003-03-25
- Priority Date: 2000-08-25
- Brief Description: This patent focuses on reconstructing multi-slice tomographic images from 4D data, where the fourth dimension is time, often used for cardiac or respiratory motion. It discusses sorting projection data according to cardiac or respiratory phases and reconstructing images for different phases. It implies the need for gating information but doesn't explicitly detail the internal derivation of this information from voxel time-activity curves as in US9814431B2.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant to the idea of motion-gated image reconstruction, particularly the "mapping of image data to corresponding motion phases" and "generating at least one motion corrected image" steps in claims 1, 21, and 22. However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific method of deriving the motion function from individual voxel time-activity information, weighting, and filtering as taught by US9814431B2. Therefore, while it describes the purpose and result of motion correction, the method of determining the motion function may differ.
US6556695B1
- Full Citation: US6556695B1 - Method for producing high resolution real-time images, of structure and function during medical procedures
- Publication Date: 2003-04-29
- Priority Date: 1999-02-05
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method for real-time imaging that involves acquiring data at high speed and then processing it to produce high-resolution images, potentially with motion correction. It mentions the use of "physiologic gating" but does not elaborate on how the gating signal is derived, particularly from internal image information.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is too general in its description of motion correction to directly anticipate the specific steps of US9814431B2's claims 1, 21, and 22, especially regarding the internal derivation of the object motion function from voxel time-activity.
US20040218794A1
- Full Citation: US20040218794A1 - Method for processing perfusion images
- Publication Date: 2004-11-04
- Priority Date: 2003-05-01
- Brief Description: This publication describes a method for processing perfusion images, which involves generating a time-activity curve for regions of interest. It's related to analyzing temporal changes in image signals, but not specifically for deriving a global object motion function for gating purposes.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference touches on "extracting time-activity information for individual voxels" (or regions), but it does not disclose the subsequent steps of prioritizing, filtering, combining into a time varying object motion function for gating, mapping to motion phases, and generating motion-corrected images as required by claims 1, 21, and 22.
US20050123183A1
- Full Citation: US20050123183A1 - Data driven motion correction for nuclear imaging
- Publication Date: 2005-06-09
- Priority Date: 2003-09-02
- Brief Description: This publication describes data-driven motion correction for nuclear imaging, where patient motion is estimated from the imaging data itself without external hardware. It mentions identifying a "motion signal" from the raw data and using it to correct for motion. This is highly relevant to the concept of retrospective internal gating.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is very strong prior art for claims 1, 21, and 22. It explicitly teaches "data driven motion correction" for nuclear imaging, which means deriving motion information from the acquired images, and using it for correction. The specific steps of "extracting time-activity information for individual voxels," "prioritizing voxels," "applying frequency filter," and "combining voxel time-activity information into a time varying object motion function" would need careful comparison to determine if every element of these claims is identically disclosed or inherently present. However, the overarching concept of deriving motion internally from image data for correction is clearly present.
US20070081704A1
- Full Citation: US20070081704A1 - System, program product, and methods for attenuation correction of emission data on PET/CT and SPECT/CT
- Publication Date: 2007-04-12
- Priority Date: 2005-03-17
- Brief Description: This publication relates to attenuation correction in PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging, which is a different aspect of image processing than motion correction. It does not primarily deal with deriving motion signals from image data.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate claims 1, 21, or 22 as its focus is on attenuation correction, not motion gating.
US20070127797A1
- Full Citation: US20070127797A1 - Methods and systems to facilitate reducing banding artifacts in images
- Publication Date: 2007-06-07
- Priority Date: 2005-11-23
- Brief Description: This publication discusses methods for reducing banding artifacts in images, which are typically caused by factors like motion or scanner instabilities. While motion can cause artifacts, this reference does not detail a method for deriving motion information from internal image signals for retrospective gating.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Unlikely to anticipate claims 1, 21, or 22 as its focus is on reducing a specific type of artifact, not the comprehensive retrospective internal gating method described.
US20070237372A1
- Full Citation: US20070237372A1 - Cross-time and cross-modality inspection for medical image diagnosis
- Publication Date: 2007-10-11
- Priority Date: 2005-12-29
- Brief Description: This publication describes methods for comparing medical images across different times or modalities for diagnostic purposes. It doesn't focus on motion correction through retrospective internal gating.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not directly relevant to the core claims of US9814431B2 for retrospective internal gating.
US7359535B2
- Full Citation: US7359535B2 - Systems and methods for retrospective internal gating
- Publication Date: 2008-04-15
- Priority Date: 2003-06-20
- Brief Description: This patent (from General Electric Company) shares the exact same title as US9814431B2 and was published before the filing date of US9814431B2 (2008-05-05). It describes a method for retrospective internal gating by identifying temporally cyclical signals from image data to create a time varying object motion function, which correlates image acquisition times with phases of periodic motion. It mentions analyzing individual voxels over time and combining these signals.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is extremely strong prior art and appears to anticipate claims 1, 21, and 22 of US9814431B2. The description in US7359535B2, including "acquiring images at different times t1 . . . tn, and identifying temporally cyclical signals, which are combined to create a time varying object motion function which correlates times t1 . . . tn and the phases of the periodic motion," directly covers many aspects of US9814431B2's independent claims. A detailed claim-by-claim analysis against this reference would be crucial to determine if any specific limitations in US9814431B2's claims provide a patentably distinct feature. The elements of extracting time-activity information, creating a time varying object motion function, and using it for mapping to motion phases and generating motion-corrected images are explicitly or inherently disclosed.
US20080226149A1
- Full Citation: US20080226149A1 - Motion Compensation in Functional Imaging
- Publication Date: 2008-09-18
- Priority Date: 2005-08-04
- Brief Description: This publication describes methods for motion compensation in functional imaging, involving estimating motion from image data (e.g., PET) and then correcting for it during reconstruction or post-reconstruction. It refers to deriving motion information directly from the acquired data.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another strong piece of prior art, as it discusses estimating motion directly from functional imaging data for compensation. It would require a close comparison with claims 1, 21, and 22 to see if the specific details of prioritizing, weighting, and the iterative combination of voxel time-activity information as taught in US9814431B2 offer distinguishing features. However, the core concept of internally deriving motion for correction is present.
US20090076369A1
- Full Citation: US20090076369A1 - Method For Reducing Motion Artifacts In Highly Constrained Medical Images
- Publication Date: 2009-03-19
- Priority Date: 2007-09-17
- Brief Description: This publication describes a method for reducing motion artifacts in medical images, particularly in highly constrained imaging scenarios. While it addresses motion artifacts, its priority date (2007-09-17) is after the priority date of US9814431B2 (2007-05-04), meaning it would not be prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9814431B2.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not prior art due to later priority date.
US7574249B2
- Full Citation: US7574249B2 - Device-less gating of physiological movement for improved image detection
- Publication Date: 2009-08-11
- Priority Date: 2005-02-08
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method for "device-less gating" of physiological movement, meaning it estimates physiological motion (like respiration or cardiac motion) from the imaging data itself without external devices. It identifies a "motion artifact characteristic" in the raw data to generate a gating signal.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is another strong prior art reference. "Device-less gating" aligns directly with "retrospective internal gating" and deriving motion from the image data. Claims 1, 21, and 22 would need careful comparison to determine if the specific methodologies for extracting, prioritizing, filtering, and combining voxel time-activity information in US9814431B2 present novel distinctions.
US20090290774A1
- Full Citation: US20090290774A1 - Dynamic computed tomography imaging
- Publication Date: 2009-11-26
- Priority Date: 2006-05-26
- Brief Description: This publication relates to dynamic CT imaging, where multiple image acquisitions are made over time. It may involve motion correction, but the focus is on the acquisition technique rather than a specific internal retrospective gating algorithm using voxel time-activity curves.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While broadly related to time-resolved imaging, this reference does not appear to anticipate the specific internal gating methodology of claims 1, 21, and 22.
US20090299184A1
- Full Citation: US20090299184A1 - Imaging or communications system utilizing multisample apodization and method
- Publication Date: 2009-12-03
- Priority Date: 2008-02-16
- Brief Description: This publication describes an imaging or communications system using multisample apodization, a signal processing technique. Its priority date (2008-02-16) is after the priority date of US9814431B2 (2007-05-04), meaning it would not be prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9814431B2.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not prior art due to later priority date.
US7734078B2
- Full Citation: US7734078B2 - System and method for generating composite substraction images for magnetic resonance imaging
- Publication Date: 2010-06-08
- Priority Date: 2002-09-18
- Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for generating composite subtraction images in MRI, often used for angiography. It's focused on image subtraction techniques rather than motion gating.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not directly relevant to the core claims of US9814431B2.
US7756307B2
- Full Citation: US7756307B2 - Method of, and software for, conducting motion correction for a tomographic scanner
- Publication Date: 2010-07-13
- Priority Date: 2003-10-17
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method and software for motion correction in a tomographic scanner. It involves identifying an image feature that moves with the patient and using its motion to correct for overall patient movement. This is a form of internal motion correction.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is strong prior art, as it teaches using an image feature to derive motion for correction in tomographic scanning. Similar to US7359535B2, US20050123183A1, and US7574249B2, it would require a detailed claim comparison to see if the specific details of voxel-based time-activity processing, weighting, and the iterative combination method as claimed in US9814431B2 provide patentable distinctions.
US20100183206A1
- Full Citation: US20100183206A1 - Adjusting acquisition protocols for dynamic medical imaging using dynamic models
- Publication Date: 2010-07-22
- Priority Date: 2007-06-21
- Brief Description: This publication discusses adjusting acquisition protocols for dynamic medical imaging using dynamic models. Its priority date (2007-06-21) is after the priority date of US9814431B2 (2007-05-04), meaning it would not be prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9814431B2.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Not prior art due to later priority date.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the analysis, the following prior art references are considered the most relevant for potentially anticipating claims of US patent 9814431 under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

US7359535B2 (Systems and methods for retrospective internal gating): This patent has the same title and directly addresses the core concept of retrospective internal gating by identifying cyclical signals from image data to create a time-varying object motion function. Its priority date is well before US9814431B2's filing date.
US20050123183A1 (Data driven motion correction for nuclear imaging): This publication teaches data-driven motion correction from imaging data itself, without external hardware, which is a key aspect of US9814431B2.
US7574249B2 (Device-less gating of physiological movement for improved image detection): This patent's concept of "device-less gating" aligns strongly with the internal, image-based motion detection described in US9814431B2.
US6144874A (Respiratory gating method for MR imaging): This patent demonstrates the application of internally-derived respiratory motion for gating in MR imaging, pre-dating US9814431B2.
US7756307B2 (Method of, and software for, conducting motion correction for a tomographic scanner): This patent describes identifying image features to track and correct for motion in tomographic scanning, which is highly relevant to internal motion correction.

These references, particularly US7359535B2, appear to disclose many, if not all, of the fundamental steps claimed in the independent claims of US9814431B2 (claims 1, 21, and 22), specifically the acquisition of images, extraction of internal motion signals, creation of a motion function, and subsequent motion correction. A detailed, element-by-element claim chart analysis would be necessary to precisely determine the extent of anticipation.