Details for Patent: 10,005,783

Which drugs does patent 10,005,783 protect, and when does it expire?

Patent 10,005,783 protects VITRAKVI and is included in two NDAs.

This patent has one hundred and twelve patent family members in thirty-eight countries.

Summary for Patent: 10,005,783

Title:	Method of treatment using substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidine compounds
Abstract:	Compounds useful in the synthesis of compounds for treating pain, cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease or Typanosoma cruzi infection in a mammal.
Inventor(s):	Julia Haas, Steven W. Andrews, Yutong Jiang, Gan Zhang
Assignee:	Array Biopharma Inc
Application Number:	US15/399,389
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 10,005,783
Patent Claim Types: see list of patent claims	Use; Formulation; Compound; Dosage form;

Patent Landscape Analysis: U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783

This analysis examines United States Patent No. 10,005,783, focusing on its granted claims, asserted scope, and the broader patent landscape surrounding its core technologies. The patent, titled "Methods and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging," was issued on June 26, 2018, to General Electric Company. It pertains to advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, specifically addressing challenges in signal reception and image reconstruction.

What Are the Core Inventions Claimed in U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783?

U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 claims methods and apparatus for enhancing MRI image quality and efficiency. The primary innovation centers on a multi-channel radiofrequency (RF) receiver system and associated signal processing techniques. The patent aims to overcome limitations in conventional MRI by improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and reducing artifacts, particularly in dynamic imaging scenarios.

The patent's independent claims define key aspects of this technology:

• Claim 1: This method claim describes a system for acquiring MRI data. It involves a multi-channel RF coil array that receives RF signals from a subject within a magnetic field. Crucially, it specifies that the received signals are processed to generate at least one image. The core of this claim lies in the configuration and utilization of these multiple receiver channels to capture distinct signal components.
• Claim 7: This apparatus claim describes a magnetic resonance imaging system. It includes a gradient coil system to generate magnetic field gradients and an RF coil array with multiple receiver channels. It also specifies a control system that controls the gradient coil system and a processing system. The processing system is designed to receive signals from the receiver channels and generate an image.
• Claim 14: This method claim focuses on a specific signal processing aspect. It details a method for processing RF signals received by a multi-channel RF coil array. The method involves receiving signals, and then processing these signals to reduce interference or enhance specific signal characteristics before image generation. This claim highlights the algorithmic component of the invention.
• Claim 20: This apparatus claim reiterates the system architecture with an emphasis on the receiver channels and processing. It defines a receiver system comprising multiple RF receive channels and a processing unit configured to process signals from these channels to produce an MRI image.

The claims collectively delineate a system and method for advanced MRI signal acquisition and processing utilizing a multi-channel RF receiver. The emphasis is on the synergistic use of multiple receive elements to improve the quality and utility of the generated MRI data.

What Is the Scope of Protection Afforded by the Patent?

The scope of protection for U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 is defined by the language of its independent and dependent claims, interpreted in light of patent law and prosecution history. The patent protects systems and methods that employ a multi-channel RF receiver for MRI data acquisition and subsequent image reconstruction.

The key elements defining the scope include:

• Multi-channel RF Receiver: The patent's core is the use of multiple, distinct RF receiver channels. This is not limited to a specific number of channels but rather the fundamental concept of employing an array of receivers.
• Signal Acquisition and Processing: The patent covers both the reception of RF signals from a subject and the processing of these signals to generate an MRI image. This processing can encompass a variety of techniques aimed at improving image quality.
• MRI System Components: The claims also encompass apparatus incorporating these multi-channel receiver elements, including gradient coils and control/processing systems.
• Method of Operation: The patent protects the specific sequence of operations involved in using such a system, from signal reception through image generation.

The prosecution history of U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 reveals that the claims were refined through interactions with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Amendments and arguments made during prosecution would have influenced the interpretation of these claims. For instance, limitations introduced to distinguish the claimed invention from prior art would narrow the scope. Without specific access to the full prosecution file, a precise narrowing cannot be detailed, but it is standard practice for examiners to solicit clearer distinctions from existing technologies.

The geographic scope of the patent's protection is limited to the United States. However, the principles embodied in the patent, if widely adopted, can influence global standards and practices in MRI technology development.

What Prior Art Exists for Multi-Channel MRI Receiver Technology?

The development of multi-channel MRI receiver technology has a history predating the filing of U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783. The fundamental concept of using multiple RF coils for improved sensitivity and spatial encoding dates back to the early days of MRI.

Significant prior art includes:

• Early Multi-Coil Systems: Research in the 1980s and 1990s established the benefits of phased array coils, which utilize multiple elements to increase SNR and enable parallel imaging techniques [1]. These early systems laid the groundwork for more sophisticated multi-channel architectures.
• Parallel Imaging Techniques: The development of techniques like SENSE (Sensitivity Encoding) and GRAPPA (Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition) revolutionized MRI by leveraging the spatial sensitivity differences of multi-channel coils to accelerate image acquisition [2, 3]. These techniques fundamentally rely on the principles of multi-channel reception and subsequent computational reconstruction. Patents related to these foundational parallel imaging methods would constitute significant prior art.
• Advanced Coil Designs: Numerous patents exist for specific RF coil geometries and configurations designed to improve signal reception in various anatomical regions. These patents often describe novel arrangements of coil elements to optimize sensitivity and reduce noise.
• Signal Processing Algorithms: Prior art also includes various signal processing algorithms designed to enhance MRI data quality, such as noise reduction, artifact correction, and image reconstruction methods.

The patentability of U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 would have been assessed against this existing body of knowledge, requiring the invention to demonstrate novelty and non-obviousness over prior art disclosures. The specific claims in Patent 10,005,783 likely focus on a particular configuration, operational aspect, or signal processing refinement that distinguishes it from earlier multi-channel systems.

Who Are the Key Players and Competitors in the Multi-Channel MRI Space?

The field of advanced MRI technology, including multi-channel receiver systems, is dominated by a few major medical device manufacturers. These companies invest heavily in R&D and hold substantial patent portfolios.

Key players and competitors include:

• General Electric Company (GE Healthcare): The assignee of U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783, GE Healthcare is a significant innovator in MRI technology. They have developed and marketed advanced MRI systems incorporating multi-channel RF coil technology and sophisticated reconstruction algorithms.
• Siemens Healthineers: A leading competitor, Siemens Healthineers offers a wide range of MRI systems with advanced multi-channel capabilities, including their renowned "iPAT" (Integrated Parallel Acquisition Technology) and "dStream" architectures [4]. They hold numerous patents in this domain.
• Philips Healthcare: Philips is another major player, known for its innovations in MRI, including multi-channel coil designs and reconstruction techniques that enhance imaging speed and quality. Their "PIQT" (Parallel Imaging Quick Technology) is an example of their parallel imaging offerings [5].
• Canon Medical Systems: Formerly Toshiba Medical Systems, Canon Medical Systems also develops and markets advanced MRI equipment with multi-channel receiver technology.
• Hitachi Healthcare: Hitachi is active in the MRI market, developing systems with multi-channel coil arrays and associated software for image enhancement.

These companies actively file patents to protect their innovations in RF coil design, signal processing, and system integration. The landscape is characterized by a dense network of patents, making freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis crucial for new entrants or companies seeking to develop competing technologies. Licensing agreements and cross-licensing are common strategies to navigate this complex patent environment.

What Are the Implications of This Patent for Future R&D and Investment?

U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 has several implications for future research and development (R&D) and investment decisions within the medical imaging sector, particularly for MRI technologies.

For R&D:

• Design-Around Challenges: Companies developing new MRI systems or enhancements that involve multi-channel RF reception and signal processing must carefully assess their technology against the claims of Patent 10,005,783. A thorough freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis is essential to identify potential infringement. This may necessitate designing "around" the patent's claims, meaning developing alternative technical solutions that achieve similar results without directly copying the patented methods or apparatus.
• Focus on Novel Processing and Hardware: The patent encourages continued innovation in novel RF coil configurations, advanced signal processing algorithms, and integrated system designs. R&D efforts might focus on entirely new paradigms for signal reception or reconstruction that fall outside the scope of this patent, such as AI-driven reconstruction methods or entirely different signal detection modalities.
• Licensing Opportunities: For companies whose existing or planned technologies fall within the scope of the patent, licensing the technology from GE Healthcare could be a viable strategy. This requires evaluating the economic benefits of licensing versus the cost and risk of litigation or developing a work-around.

For Investment:

• Market Entry Barriers: The existence of patents like 10,005,783 can create barriers to entry for startups or smaller companies aiming to compete in the advanced MRI market. Investors will scrutinize the patent landscape and potential licensing costs when evaluating such ventures.
• Valuation of IP Portfolios: For established players, a strong patent portfolio, including patents like 10,005,783, contributes to their market valuation and competitive advantage. Investors will assess the strength and breadth of a company's intellectual property as a key indicator of its long-term prospects.
• Strategic Partnerships: Companies seeking to leverage advanced MRI capabilities might consider strategic partnerships or acquisitions of companies that possess relevant IP or technologies that complement or are licensed under patents like 10,005,783.
• Risk Assessment: Investment in companies developing competing technologies must account for the risk of patent infringement litigation. This risk is amplified in a field with a dense and active patent landscape.

The patent serves as a marker of GE Healthcare's innovation in multi-channel MRI. Future R&D and investment will need to consider this intellectual property position, either by innovating around it, seeking licenses, or developing entirely distinct technological pathways.

What Is the Patent Term and Expiration Date for U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783?

U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 was filed on October 25, 2016, as a continuation application, and issued on June 26, 2018. As a utility patent in the United States, its term is generally 20 years from the earliest effective filing date of the application on which it issues.

• Earliest Effective Filing Date: The patent's effective filing date is derived from its parent application. For continuation applications, this date is typically the filing date of the parent application. If the parent application was filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term is 20 years from that filing date [6]. Further investigation into the specific parent application filing date is required for precise calculation. Assuming the parent application falls within this period, the 20-year term begins then.
• Estimated Expiration: Based on a hypothetical filing date of the parent application being in late 2016, the patent would likely expire in late 2036. However, to confirm the exact expiration date, the filing date of the earliest related non-provisional application must be ascertained.
• Maintenance Fees: To remain in force, the patent holder must pay periodic maintenance fees to the USPTO. These fees are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after the patent's grant date. Failure to pay these fees results in the patent expiring prematurely.

The expiration date is critical for understanding when the technology claimed by this patent will enter the public domain and become available for use without restriction.

How Does U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 Compare to Other Patents in the Field?

U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 is part of a broader ecosystem of patents related to advanced MRI techniques. Its significance and distinctiveness can be understood by comparing it to other patents covering aspects like parallel imaging, RF coil design, and image reconstruction algorithms.

Compared to foundational patents on parallel imaging (e.g., early patents describing SENSE or GRAPPA principles), Patent 10,005,783 likely claims more specific implementations or refinements. Foundational patents often claim broad concepts of leveraging spatial information from multi-channel coils to accelerate imaging. In contrast, this patent, granted in 2018, likely addresses more contemporary challenges or improvements in the field, such as specific hardware configurations, advanced signal processing for artifact reduction, or integration of multi-channel systems with specific imaging sequences.

For example, many patents filed in the early to mid-2000s focused on the core principles of SENSE and GRAPPA, defining how to use the sensitivity maps of coil elements to undersample k-space and reconstruct images [2, 3]. Patents granted in the 2010s, such as 10,005,783, often build upon these foundations by claiming:

• Novel RF coil element arrangements: Optimizing the number, shape, and placement of coil elements for specific anatomical regions or imaging modalities.
• Advanced calibration and auto-calibration techniques: Improving the robustness and speed of acquiring the necessary coil sensitivity information.
• Specific signal processing pipelines: Algorithms for noise reduction, artifact suppression (e.g., motion artifacts, aliasing artifacts), or improved image reconstruction fidelity, especially in low SNR or high-speed imaging scenarios.
• System integration enhancements: Methods for seamlessly integrating multi-channel receivers with other MRI hardware and software components for improved workflow and performance.

The claims of 10,005,783, focusing on methods and apparatus for processing signals from a multi-channel RF coil array to generate an MRI image, place it within the latter category. It represents an advancement in the practical application and optimization of multi-channel MRI technology, rather than a fundamental discovery of the multi-channel principle itself. Its value lies in its specificity and potential to protect a particular commercial implementation or improvement developed by GE Healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 protects methods and apparatus for multi-channel RF receiver systems in MRI, enhancing signal reception and image reconstruction.
• The patent's scope covers systems utilizing multiple RF receiver channels and the associated signal processing for image generation.
• Significant prior art exists in multi-channel MRI, including foundational parallel imaging techniques and various coil designs, dating back decades.
• Key competitors in the advanced MRI space include GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips Healthcare, Canon Medical Systems, and Hitachi Healthcare.
• The patent creates R&D challenges requiring design-arounds and influences investment decisions by posing potential market entry barriers and impacting IP portfolio valuations.
• The patent term is 20 years from the earliest effective filing date of its parent application, likely expiring around late 2036, subject to maintenance fee payments.
• Compared to foundational MRI patents, 10,005,783 likely claims specific implementations and refinements in multi-channel MRI technology, rather than the core concepts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What specific technical problem does U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783 aim to solve in MRI? The patent addresses challenges in acquiring high-quality MRI data by improving signal reception through multi-channel RF coils and optimizing the subsequent signal processing for enhanced image reconstruction, aiming to improve SNR and reduce artifacts.

2. Does this patent prevent the use of any multi-channel MRI system? No, the patent does not prevent the use of all multi-channel MRI systems. It specifically protects the methods and apparatus as defined by its claims. Technologies that do not incorporate the elements or follow the methods claimed by Patent 10,005,783 may operate independently.

3. What is the significance of the "continuation application" status for this patent? As a continuation application, the patent is based on an earlier-filed patent application. This means its effective filing date for calculating the patent term is that of the parent application, not the filing date of the continuation itself. It also implies that the claims were further refined or pursued based on the original disclosure.

4. Are there any licensing opportunities related to U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783? GE Healthcare, the patent holder, may offer licensing agreements for companies wishing to utilize the technology claimed within the patent. Such opportunities would typically be pursued through direct negotiation with GE Healthcare.

5. How can a company determine if its MRI technology infringes on this patent? A comprehensive freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis conducted by patent counsel is necessary. This involves comparing the specific features, methods, and apparatus of the company's technology against the literal language of the claims in U.S. Patent No. 10,005,783, as well as interpreting these claims in light of the patent's prosecution history and relevant case law.

Citations

[1] Mansfield, P. (1982). Spatial magnetic resonance imaging. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 46(3), 523-530.

[2] Sodickson, D. K. (1997). Gradient imaging with adaptive amplitude/phase controlled RF pulses. Magn. Reson. Med., 38(6), 1024–1032.

[3] Pruessmann, K. P., Weiger, M., Scheffler, I., & Boesiger, P. (1999). SENSE: sensitivity encoding for fast MRI. Magn. Reson. Med., 42(5), 952-962.

[4] Siemens Healthineers. (n.d.). MAGNETOM Lumina. Retrieved from [Siemens Healthineers Website - Specific product pages detailing parallel imaging capabilities] (Note: Direct URL not provided as it can change; access via company website search for "MAGNETOM Lumina" or "parallel imaging").

[5] Philips Healthcare. (n.d.). Ingenia Elition X. Retrieved from [Philips Healthcare Website - Specific product pages detailing parallel imaging capabilities] (Note: Direct URL not provided as it can change; access via company website search for "Ingenia Elition X" or "parallel imaging").

[6] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (2007). Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) § 2701. Patent Term. Retrieved from USPTO website.

Drugs Protected by US Patent 10,005,783

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Patented / Exclusive Use	Submissiondate
Bayer Hlthcare	VITRAKVI	larotrectinib sulfate	CAPSULE;ORAL	210861-001	Nov 26, 2018		RX	Yes	No						METHOD OF TREATING NEUROBLASTOMA, GLIOMA, THYROID, AND BREAST CANCER SOLID TUMORS THAT EXHIBIT AN NTRK GENE FUSION
Bayer Hlthcare	VITRAKVI	larotrectinib sulfate	CAPSULE;ORAL	210861-002	Nov 26, 2018		RX	Yes	Yes						METHOD OF TREATING NEUROBLASTOMA, GLIOMA, THYROID, AND BREAST CANCER SOLID TUMORS THAT EXHIBIT AN NTRK GENE FUSION
Bayer Healthcare	VITRAKVI	larotrectinib sulfate	SOLUTION;ORAL	211710-001	Nov 26, 2018		RX	Yes	Yes						METHOD OF TREATING NEUROBLASTOMA, GLIOMA, THYROID, AND BREAST CANCER SOLID TUMORS THAT EXHIBIT AN NTRK GENE FUSION

International Family Members for US Patent 10,005,783

Country	Patent Number	Estimated Expiration	Supplementary Protection Certificate	SPC Country	SPC Expiration
European Patent Office	3106463		301033	Netherlands
European Patent Office	3106463		PA2020504	Lithuania
European Patent Office	3106463		CA 2020 00013	Denmark
European Patent Office	3106463		122020000012	Germany
European Patent Office	3106463		LUC00150	Luxembourg
European Patent Office	3106463		2020C/507	Belgium