Patents Examined by Pascal M. Bui-Pho
  • Patent number: 11950881
    Abstract: This invention is a smart bra for optical scanning of breast tissue which has light emitters which transmit light into breast tissue, light receivers which receive the light after it has been transmitted through the breast tissue, and expandable components which selectively move light emitters and/or receivers closer to the surface of a breast where there are air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Holovsions LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Connor
  • Patent number: 11944489
    Abstract: An intravascular imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for insertion into a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a conductor extending between the proximal and distal portions of the flexible elongate member; an imaging assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including: a flex circuit including a body and a tab extending therefrom, the tab having a conductive portion coupled to the conductor; and a support member around which the flex circuit is disposed, the support member including a shelf on which tab is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maritess Minas, Princeton Saroha, Jeremy Stigall, David Kenneth Wrolstad
  • Patent number: 11865371
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to generate high frequency shock waves in a controlled manner. The generated shock waves can be delivered to certain cellular structures of a patient for use in medical and/or aesthetic therapeutic applications. The shock waves can be configured to impose sufficient mechanical stress to the targeted cells of the tissue to rupture the targeted cells. Embodiments of the apparatuses and methods of the present invention provide targeted rupturing of specific cells without damaging side effects such as cavitation or thermal degradation of surrounding non-targeted cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas Syster
    Inventor: Christopher C. Capelli
  • Patent number: 11857145
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method for providing image data of a hollow organ. The method includes applying a first contrast agent to a lumen of the hollow organ, to obtain a contrast agent filling of the lumen; applying a second contrast agent to a blood vessel system, the blood vessel system supplying a wall of the hollow organ, the second contrast agent having a different absorption spectrum than the first contrast agent; generating spectrally resolved computed tomography data of an examination area, the examination area including the hollow organ; calculating first image data indicative of a presence of the first contrast agent and second image data indicative of a presence of the second contrast agent by applying a material separation algorithm onto the spectrally resolved computed tomography data; and providing the image data of the hollow organ including the first image data and the second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Lichy, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11844646
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a display; a memory storing one or more instructions; and a processor configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory to: generate a plurality of ultrasound images of an object including a plurality of entities, based on echo signals received from the object; detect first and second entities among the plurality of entities in each of the plurality of ultrasound images; acquire size information regarding the detected first entity and size information regarding the detected second entity from each of the plurality of ultrasound images; and control the display to display, based on the size information regarding the first entity and the size information regarding the second entity, a first ultrasound image showing a largest size of the first entity and a second ultrasound image showing a largest size of the second entity, from among the plurality of ultrasound images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunjae Jeon, Dongkuk Shin, Sungjin Choi
  • Patent number: 11841414
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance imaging device configured to exert a high-frequency electromagnetic field on an object under test in a static magnetic field and to reconstruct an image based on magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance imaging device comprises a receiving coil comprising a plurality of receiving coil elements and configured to receive magnetic resonance signals and feed the magnetic resonance signals to a receiver, and a coupler configured to be coupled with at least a first receiving coil element of the receiving coil, the coupler being directionally coupled with at least the receiver, the first receiving coil element being configured to receive a high-frequency electromagnetic wave signal through the coupler. The directional coupling between the coupler and the receiver is so regulated that the first receiving coil element transmits the high-frequency electromagnetic wave signal to the object under test to sense a physiological movement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: JianMin Wang, Qiu Yi Zhang, Markus Vester, Jia Wen
  • Patent number: 11826199
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound probe including: a piezoelectric body that transmits and receives ultrasound; a backing that is disposed behind the piezoelectric body; and a reflector that is disposed between the piezoelectric body and the backing and that has an acoustic impedance greater than an acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric body; wherein, a thickness of the reflector is within the range of more than 0 to less than 0.05?, where ? is a wavelength of the ultrasound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Koetsu Saito, Hisashi Minemoto
  • Patent number: 11793487
    Abstract: Techniques of this disclosure are for a transducer array device, method and system. An ultrasound wrap for securing an array of piezoelectric transducers at a thoracic cavity anterior for echocardiology imaging, the ultrasound wrap including a transducer portion having an array of piezoelectric transducers mounted to an inner concave surface of a semi-rigid structure, and a securing portion extending from the transducer portion and comprising flexible material securely fitting around the thorax of a patient limiting the movement of the transducer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Annamarie Saarinen, Paul Saarinen
  • Patent number: 11759183
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound imaging apparatus, and a control method thereof that can efficiently and quickly determine whether a disinfectant remains in an ultrasound probe or whether the ultrasound is operating normally without changing the structure of an ultrasound imaging device. The ultrasound imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes: a display provided on the main body; a main body including at least one slot connected to the connector; and a controller configured to output a warning message to the display when the connector and the slot are connected and the current flowing from the ultrasound probe is out of a predetermined reference range, and the controller is composed of at least one processor included in the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Sungjae Lee, Sangmok Lee, Yongcheol Hyeon
  • Patent number: 11688294
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an enhanced ultrasound biofeedback therapy for an improved speech remediation treatment for an individual include transmitting a plurality of ultrasound (US) waves toward a tongue of the individual; receiving a plurality of reflected US waves; converting the plurality of reflected US waves into a plurality of US signals to transmit to an ultrasound machine; and generating one or more enhanced images of the tongue at least partially based on the US signals in real-time, the enhanced images including identified Regions of Interest (ROIs) along tongue sub-parts comprising the tongue root, the tongue dorsum, and the tongue blade and respective ROI points identified therein. An interactive visual story is generated and updated in real-time with a tongue-mapping trajectory of the individual on a display based on the enhanced one or more images to determine a successful or unsuccessful sound production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
    Inventors: Suzanne Boyce, Sarah Hamilton Dugan, T. Douglas Mast, Michael Riley
  • Patent number: 11642174
    Abstract: A system and method that acquire (i) at least a reference image including one of a preoperative image of a surgical site with skeletal and articulating bones and a contralateral image on an opposite side of the patient from the surgical site, and (ii) at least an intraoperative image of the site after an implant has been affixed to the articulating bone. The system preferably generates at least one reference stationary point on at least the skeletal bone in the reference image and at least one intraoperative stationary point on at least the skeletal bone in the intraoperative image. The location of the implant is identified in the intraoperative image, preferably including the position of first and second centers of rotation, which are digitally represented and copied into the reference image to analyze at least one of offset and length differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Noah D. Wollowick, Andrew J. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11622746
    Abstract: An intraluminal imaging device includes a flexible elongate member configured to be inserted into a lumen within a body of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a longitudinal axis; an imaging assembly coupled to the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly comprising: a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements disposed around the longitudinal axis of the flexible elongate member; a plurality of controllers configured to control the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to obtain imaging data associated with the lumen; and a plurality of electrical wires extending between the plurality of the ultrasound transducer elements and the plurality of controllers and configured to facilitate communication between the plurality of the ultrasound transducer elements and the plurality of controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maritess Minas, Princeton Saroha, Jeremy Stigall, David Kenneth Wrolstad
  • Patent number: 11612380
    Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; an ultrasound transducer that is provided at a distal end of the insertion portion and includes plural piezoelectric element groups configured to transmit and receive ultrasound; a connector portion that is provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion and includes plural connectors to which an external device is connected; and a cable portion including plural first coaxial lines connected to the piezoelectric element groups configured to transmit the ultrasound to a first area, and plural second coaxial lines connected to the piezoelectric element groups configured to transmit the ultrasound to a second area, the first coaxial lines being shorter in length than the second coaxial lines, the first area and the second area being where the ultrasound is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Imahashi
  • Patent number: 11589925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical system using an interventional elongated medical device having an optical fiber configured for optical shape sensing of the medical device. The system comprises a detection unit configured to detect a confined manipulation section along the medical device for manipulation by a user without an interaction interface arranged on the medical device and an analysis unit configured to analyze a user manipulation applied to the manipulation section based on optical shape sensing of the medical device in the manipulation section and to trigger an event in the medical system, if the analysis unit identifies the user manipulation in the manipulation section as a specific manipulation associated with the event to be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sander Hans Denissen, Wilhelmus Henrica Gerarda Maria Van Den Boomen, Molly Lara Flexman
  • Patent number: 11576653
    Abstract: An ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic wave source and a converging portion. The converging portion includes a first reflecting portion which reflects the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic wave source on its first reflecting surface, a second reflecting portion which reflects the ultrasonic wave reflected by the first reflecting surface on its second reflecting surface, and a waveguide serving as a transmission path for the ultrasonic wave. The waveguide is disposed such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by the second reflecting surface is introduced through an introduction portion thereof. The focal point of the second reflecting surface and the focal point of the first reflecting surface are disposed such that the ultrasonic wave reflected by the second reflecting surface becomes a plane wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Morita, Kang Chen, Takashi Iijima, Takasuke Irie
  • Patent number: 11547390
    Abstract: Information relevant to a state of a tissue in a subject (state information) is provided with technology reducing the amount of memory and computation necessary at the time of extracting the information. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted towards a subject, a transmission wave transmitted through the subject or a reflection wave reflected on the subject is received. A reception signal is generated on the basis of the transmission wave or the reflection wave. A tissue region candidate, of a region indicating a tissue of the subject, is set on the basis of the reception signal. State information, which is information relevant to a state of the tissue in the tissue region candidate, is calculated on the basis of the reception signal and the tissue region candidate. An ultrasonic image reflecting the state information is generated on the basis of the state information and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamanaka, Kenichi Kawabata, Takahide Terada, Yushi Tsubota, Wenjing Wu
  • Patent number: 11524183
    Abstract: A method can include placing a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) probe proximate a first location of a designated treatment volume of a patient. The probe can include at least one transducer. The method can also include energizing the transducer to ablate a first lesion on or in the designated treatment volume, de-energizing the transducer, and focusing or moving the transducer to a second location on or in the designated treatment volume. The method can also include reenergizing the transducer to ablate a second lesion on or in the treatment volume, de-energizing the transducer, and focusing or moving the transducer to a third location on or in the designated treatment volume. The method can further include reenergizing the transducer to ablate a third lesion on or in the treatment volume, and de-energizing the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SONABLATE CORP.
    Inventors: Carlos Martin Garcia Gutierrez, Narendra Sanghvi, Habid Becerra Herrejon
  • Patent number: 11428761
    Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes adjusting a radio frequency excitation field B1 to be applied to a subject of interest (20) to be imaged. At least one position parameter (d) that is indicative of a position of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20) relative to at least one radio frequency transmit antenna (36) of the magnetic resonance imaging system (10) is determined. At least one radio frequency power-related parameter of radio frequency power to be fed to the at least one radio frequency transmit antenna (36) is adjusted in dependence of the at least one of the determined at least one position parameter (d) and a determined geometric dimension (w) of the subject of interest (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Royston Harvey
  • Patent number: 11378638
    Abstract: An echo planar imaging technique in which a quadruple echo gradient and spin echo echo-planar imaging pulse sequence is utilized. The pulse train includes generation of two echo trains between an excitation pulse (90) and a refocusing pulse (180) to achieve two gradient echo images (also called T2*-weighted images); with one echo train directly after the 180 pulse, leading to asymmetric spin echo images (T2?-weighted images); and a last echo train afterward that generates spin echo images (T2-weighted). The technique has a number of advantages over existing techniques with regard to voxel size, mapping relative oxygen extraction, determining permeability, determining relative cerebral blood volume, vessel parameters (diameter, density, size, arterial/venous, etc.), stroke imaging, imaging perfusion, fMRI imaging, and additional benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Benjamin Ellingson, Kevin Leu
  • Patent number: 11369403
    Abstract: A handheld instrument for endoscope surgery includes a shaft, a jaw, a handle, a phased array ultrasonic sensor, and a signal wiring. The jaw is placed at one end of the shaft and has a holding function. The handle is placed at the other end of the shaft and includes an operation mechanism for operating the jaw. The phased array ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the jaw and has an imaging function. The signal wiring is provided to the shaft and connects the ultrasonic sensor and the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rui Morimoto, Kazuhiko Miyahara