Patents Assigned to Sunnybrook Research Institute
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Patent number: 10605883Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for correcting magnetic resonance data for off-resonance effects arising from the use of a multi-echo echo planar imaging (“EPI”) pulse sequence. Reference data are acquired, from which phase maps are computed in a distorted coordinate space associated with geometric distortions associated with the multi-echo EPI acquisition. Images reconstructed from the magnetic resonance data are demodulated using the distorted phase maps to produce distortion free images of the subject. Advantageously, the systems and methods can be used to reconstruct distortion free images from magnetic resonance data that is otherwise prone to image distortions from off-resonance errors, including data acquired from hyperpolarized nuclear spin species such as hyperpolarized carbon-13.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Benjamin J. Geraghty, Charles H. Cunningham
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Patent number: 10607738Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and a method for treatment planning for providing ablative therapy to a patient. The treatment planning may involve segmenting images of the patient to define areas to receive treatment, defining trial parameters, simulating treatment of ablative therapy to the patient according to the trial parameters; analyzing a thermal dose distribution resulting from the simulated treatment to determine treatment effectiveness; determining when the treatment effectiveness meets a treatment effectiveness criteria; and providing an indication of the trial parameters when the treatment effectiveness meets the treatment effectiveness criteria.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignees: University Health Network, Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Sean Davidson, Michael D. Sherar, Kieran Murphy, Claire McCann, Robert Weersink
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Patent number: 10595805Abstract: Systems and methods for generating imaging biomarkers that indicate detectability or conspicuity of lesions that may be present in mammographic images are provided. In general, a task-based measure of a signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) measurement of a detection task is computed over a number of small regions-of-interest (“ROIs”) in an image, and the computed parameter is used to predict what detection rates should be if a lesion was present in the image. As such, the computed parameter can be used to define an imaging biomarker that is a “masking measure” that indicates the degree of conspicuity of lesions that may be present in a given a mammographic image.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: James Mainprize, Olivier Alonzo-Proulx, Martin Yaffe, Gordon Mawdsley
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Patent number: 10582878Abstract: Systems and methods of are disclosed for providing visual feedback to a subject during magnetic resonance imaging, where the visual feedback is associated with input provided by the subject to a magnetic resonance compatible touch panel. A video camera is employed to record video images of the interaction between the subject and the touch panel, and the video images are processed to generate a real-time video signal including a rendering of the input provided to the touch panel and the interaction between the subject's hands and the touch panel. The real-time video signal is provided to the subject as visual feedback, and is displayed within a time duration that is sufficiently fast to avoid the detection of the visual feedback as an error signal with the subject's brain in relation to the sense of proprioception. A measurement of the force applied to the touch panel by the subject may be recorded and employed when rendering the real-time video.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignees: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE, BAYCREST CENTRE FOR GERIATRIC CAREInventors: Simon James Graham, Tom A. Schweizer, Stephen Strother, Fred Tam, Mahta Karimpoor
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Patent number: 10576304Abstract: Apparatus and method for delivering increased amounts of energy to localized treatment zones in a target tissue volume are provided. In some instances the non-linear wave propagation and other properties of the treatment apparatus and propagation medium as well as novel beam forming and control of the treatment apparatus are employed to generate extended focal zones for efficient treatment of a condition in a patient.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventor: Kullervo Henrik Hynynen
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Patent number: 10506962Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing an intraoperative assessment of brain function based on input that is obtained using a touch panel device, in response to a task, and in the presence of an intervention that is applied to a selected region of the brain. The intervention may be stimulation of the selected region of the brain, such as direct cortical stimulation. In some embodiments, a measure is determined based on the input received from the touch panel. The measure may be a performance measure, related to the performance of the task, and/or a functional measure, associated with an inferred function of the selected region of the brain. In some embodiments, an image of the brain that is registered to an intraoperative reference frame may be annotated or otherwise modified within the selected region based on the measure.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignees: ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL, SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Simon James Graham, Melanie Anne Morrison, Fred Tam, Tom Andreas Schweizer, Sunit Das, Marco Garavaglia
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Patent number: 10500248Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of treating prostate cancer comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a vasopressin analogue.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Laurence H. Klotz, Vasundara Venkateswaran
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Patent number: 10482582Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the denoising of images in the presence of broadband noise based on the detection and/or estimation of in-band noise. According to various example embodiments, an estimate of broadband noise that lies within the imaging band is made by detecting or characterizing the out-of-band noise that lies outside of the imaging band. This estimated in-band noise may be employed for denoise the detected imaging waveform. According to other example embodiments, a reference receive circuit that is sensitive to noise within the imaging band, but is isolated from the imaging energy, may be employed to detect and/or characterize the noise within the imaging band. The estimated reference noise may be employed to denoise the detected in-band imaging waveform.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Brian Courtney, Naimul Mefraz Khan, Natasha Alves-Kotzev
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Patent number: 10471471Abstract: The present application provides a multilayer lateral mode coupling method for phased array construction and transducer devices built accordingly. This disclosure describes and demonstrates that the electrical impedance of a phased array can be substantially reduced and readily controlled to be close to the source impedance. The fabrication process is relatively simple and inexpensive. In addition, the elements are robust for use in 1.5, 2, 3 or other dimensional configurations, over an extended period of operation, without structural failure, and providing a high power output required for imaging and/or medical therapy applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Kullervo Hynynen, Junho Song
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Patent number: 10426974Abstract: The generation of a pattern and for an adaptation to the specific geometry requires a lot of manual work. The workflow for the clinician is simplified during treatment planning. A treatment planning system is configured for determining a set of catheter or needle insertion positions to be used during treatment. The treatment planning system includes an image providing module for providing a medical image from which at least one treatment target structure can be derived. Further the treatment planning system includes a pattern providing module for providing one or a set of standard patterns for catheter or needle insertion including a plurality of catheter or needle insertion positions. The catheter or needle positions relate to treatment positions in the at least one treatment target structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignees: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SRI)Inventors: Thomas Erik Amthor, Falk Uhlemann, SHyam Bharat, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast, Cynthia Ming-Fu Kung, Ananth Ravi, Jochen Kruecker
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Patent number: 10314882Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and uses of Tie2 agonists alone or in combination with antiviral agents. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods and uses for treating influenza, treating a bacterial superinfection associated with influenza and decreasing lung endothelial leakage. The disclosure also provides compositions comprising (a) a Tie2 agonist and (b) an antiviral agent and methods and uses thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignees: Sunnybrook Research Institute, Unity Health TorontoInventors: Daniel Dumont, Paul Van Slyke, Warren Lee
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Patent number: 10307076Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting collagen within tissue using magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, pulse sequences are employed to measure signals at multiple TE values including ultra-short echo times, and the TE dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first (initial) decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In another example embodiment, spectroscopy or spectroscopic imaging is employed to measure the free induction decay within at least one region of interest, and the time-dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be employed for the detection and/or assessment of myocardial fibrosis.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Adrienne Grace Siu, Graham A. Wright
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Patent number: 10300307Abstract: A focused ultrasound (“FUS”} system capable of use in a small bore imaging system, such as a small bore magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”} system is provided. The FUS system generally includes an ultrasound transducer whose position is adjusted by a positioning system. The positioning system is sized to fit within the bore of the small bore imaging system. For instance, the positioning system can fit within a diameter of 150 millimeters or less.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Kullervo Hynynen, Anthony Chau, Rajiv Chopra
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Patent number: 10285593Abstract: Systems and methods for registering pre-operative medical images, such as computed tomography (“CT”) images, to the coordinate space of an ultrasound treatment system are provided. The registration is generally based on minimizing distances between locations associated with an anatomical feature, as identified from the medical images, and spherical surfaces defined by time-of-flight measurements for ultrasound data acquired from the anatomical feature by transducer elements. The locations associated with the anatomical feature, which may be a skull of the subject, can be points or planar surfaces define on the anatomical feature. The registration methods described here can be useful for aberration correction and targeting using an array of high-frequency ultrasound elements. In combination with cavitation monitoring and control, this ultrasound-based registration of CT images could eliminate the need for MRI during these treatments.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Meaghan O'Reilly, Kullervo Hynynen, Ryan Jones
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Patent number: 10290098Abstract: An interventional therapy system may include at least one controller which may obtain a reference image dataset of an object of interest (OOI); segment the reference image dataset to determine peripheral outlines of the OOI in the plurality image slices; acquire a current image of the OOI using an ultrasound probe; select a peripheral outline of a selected image slice of the plurality of slices of the reference image dataset which is determined to correspond to the current image; and/or modify the selected peripheral outline of the image slice of the plurality of slices of the reference image dataset in accordance with at least one deformation vector.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Shyam Bharat, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast, Jochen Kruecker, Ananth Ravi, Falk Uhlemann, Cynthia Ming-Fu Kung, Thomas Erik Amthor
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Patent number: 10258314Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging capable of achieving spatial resolutions that can resolve objects smaller than 300 ?m are described. Ultrasound is transmitted to and steered over a volume-of-interest that contains a microbubble contrast agent to individually excite microbubbles. Signal data is acquired in response to the transmitted ultrasound, and a plurality of images are reconstructed by beamforming the acquired signal data. The spatial resolution of the beamformed images can be further increased using techniques that determine the position of the microbubble within each image to a greater level of accuracy than the point spread function (“PSF”) of the ultrasound system. The images can also be combined to produce a single high resolution image of the volume-of-interest using, for instance, a maximum pixel projection technique.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Kullervo Hynynen, Meaghan O'Reilly, Foroohar Foroozan
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Patent number: 10226227Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying tissue using quantitative ultrasound techniques. Parameters are calculated directly from raw echo signal data acquired from a region-of-interest during an ultrasound scan and parametric maps are produced using these parameters. These parameters can be calculated after normalizing the echo signal data using reference data so as to mitigate the effects of variations in instruments settings, ultrasound beam diffraction, and attenuation effects. First-order and second-order statistical measures are computed from these parametric maps, and are used to classify the tissue or tissues in the region-of-interest. Using these systems and methods, tissue can be classified with different levels of classification. For example, a tissue characterized as malignant cancer can additionally be graded (e.g., Grade I, II, or III).Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Ali Sadeghi-Naini, Hadi Tadayyon, Gregory J. Czarnota, Omar Falou
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Patent number: 10070829Abstract: A system and method for measuring volumetric breast density using a low dose of radiation are provided. This low-dose image can be added to a standard mammographic screening protocol with less than a two percent increase in radiation dose imparted to the subject. This low-dose image can also be used as a single standalone test to determine breast density for younger women for the purposes of risk determination or screening regimen planning. The breast density measurement is more accurate than measurements that can be obtained with existing systems and methods by making use of a compression assembly that maintains a parallel alignment between the compression paddle and breast support table. Additionally, the compression assembly maintains a uniform known thickness of the compressed breast. The system and method have the added benefit that they can be readily implemented on a conventional digital x-ray unit with low cost.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Gordon E. Mawdsley, Martin J. Yaffe, Oliver Alonzo-Proulx
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Publication number: 20180132723Abstract: Systems and methods for registering pre-operative medical images, such as computed tomography (“CT”) images, to the coordinate space of an ultrasound treatment system are provided. The registration is generally based on minimizing distances between locations associated with an anatomical feature, as identified from the medical images, and spherical surfaces defined by time-of-flight measurements for ultrasound data acquired from the anatomical feature by transducer elements. The locations associated with the anatomical feature, which may be a skull of the subject, can be points or planar surfaces define on the anatomical feature. The registration methods described here can be useful for aberration correction and targeting using an array of high-frequency ultrasound elements. In combination with cavitation monitoring and control, this ultrasound-based registration of CT images could eliminate the need for MRI during these treatments.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Meaghan O'Reilly, Kullervo Hynynen, Ryan Jones
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Patent number: 9867998Abstract: The invention relates to a calibration apparatus for calibrating a system for introducing an influencing element like a radiation source into an object, particularly for calibrating a brachytherapy system. First and second images show a longish introduction device (12) like a catheter and a tracking device (16) like an electromagnetically trackable guidewire inserted into the introduction device as far as possible, and the introduction device and a calibration element (46) having the same dimensions as the influencing element and being inserted into the introduction device as far as possible. A spatial relation between the tracking device and the calibration element is determined based on the images for calibrating the system. Knowing this spatial relation allows accurately determining an influencing plan like a brachytherapy treatment plan and accurately positioning the influencing element in accordance with the influencing plan, which in turn allows for a more accurate influencing of the object.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignees: Koninkljke Philips N.V., Sunnybrook Research InstituteInventors: Shyam Bharat, Jochen Kruecker, Ananth Ravi, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast