Patents by Inventor Peter J. Kaczkowski
Peter J. Kaczkowski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10713758Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: John Kucewicz, Francesco P. Curra, Gregory P. Darlington, Lee D. Dunbar, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Justin Reed
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Patent number: 10302750Abstract: A method and system for generating arbitrary ultrasonic waveforms using a tri-state transmitter. Three variants of the device are described to provide functionality in three usage scenarios.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: VERASONICS, INC.Inventors: John A. Flynn, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Brian J. Pflugrath, Lauren S. Pflugrath
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Patent number: 9588491Abstract: The present technology relates generally to portable acoustic holography systems for therapeutic ultrasound sources, and associated devices and methods. In some embodiments, a method of characterizing an ultrasound source by acoustic holography includes the use of a transducer geometry characteristic, a transducer operation characteristic, and a holography system measurement characteristic. A control computer can be instructed to determine holography measurement parameters. Based on the holography measurement parameters, the method can include scanning a target surface to obtain a hologram. Waveform measurements at a plurality of points on the target surface can be captured. Finally, the method can include processing the measurements to reconstruct at least one characteristic of the ultrasound source.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for CommercializationInventors: Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Michael R. Bailey, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Vera A. Khokhlova, Wayne Kreider
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Publication number: 20160161603Abstract: A method and system for generating arbitrary ultrasonic waveforms using a tri-state transmitter. Three variants of the device are described to provide functionality in three usage scenarios.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: John A. FLYNN, Peter J. KACZKOWSKI, Brian J. PFLUGRATH, Lauren S. PFLUGRATH
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Patent number: 9198635Abstract: High intensity ultrasound (HIU) is used to facilitate surgical procedures, such as a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, with minimal bleeding. An apparatus is configured to emit HIU from one or more transducers that are attached to a minimally invasive surgical instrument. Such a tool preferably can provide sufficient clamping pressure to collapse blood vessels' walls, so that they will be sealed by the application of the HIU, and by the resulting thermal ablation and tissue cauterization. Such an instrument can provide feedback to the user that the lesion is completely transmural and that blood flow to the region distal of the line of thermal ablation has ceased. Similar instruments having opposed arms can be configured for use in conventional surgical applications as well. Instruments can be implemented with transducers on only one arm, and an ultrasound reflective material disposed on the other arm.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Lawrence A. Crum, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Stuart B. Mitchell, Michael R. Bailey
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Publication number: 20130301383Abstract: The present technology relates generally to portable acoustic holography systems for therapeutic ultrasound sources, and associated devices and methods. In some embodiments, a method of characterizing an ultrasound source by acoustic holography includes the use of a transducer geometry characteristic, a transducer operation characteristic, and a holography system measurement characteristic. A control computer can be instructed to determine holography measurement parameters. Based on the holography measurement parameters, the method can include scanning a target surface to obtain a hologram. Waveform measurements at a plurality of points on the target surface can be captured. Finally, the method can include processing the measurements to reconstruct at least one characteristic of the ultrasound source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Oleg A. Sapozhnikov, Michael R. Bailey, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Vera A. Khokhlova, Wayne Kreider
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Publication number: 20130204135Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2013Publication date: August 8, 2013Inventors: John Kucewicz, Francesco P. Curra, Gregory P. Darlington, Lee D. Dunbar, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Justin Reed
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Patent number: 8500643Abstract: Multilayer ultrasound transducer devices for high power transmission and wide-band reception and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transducer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a first array of first transducers and a second array of second transducers that are oriented substantially parallel to one another. The first transducers can include a first piezoelectric material that is configured to transmit acoustic waves, and the second transducers can include a second piezoelectric material that is configured to receive echoes from the acoustic waves. The ultrasound transducer device can further include an electrical connection layer between the first and second arrays that is electrically coupled to the first and second transducers.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Francesco P. Curra, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Neil R. Owen
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Publication number: 20120172721Abstract: Multilayer ultrasound transducer devices for high power transmission and wide-band reception and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transducer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a first array of first transducers and a second array of second transducers that are oriented substantially parallel to one another. The first transducers can include a first piezoelectric material that is configured to transmit acoustic waves, and the second transducers can include a second piezoelectric material that is configured to receive echoes from the acoustic waves. The ultrasound transducer device can further include an electrical connection layer between the first and second arrays that is electrically coupled to the first and second transducers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONInventors: Francesco P. Curra, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Neil R. Owen
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Publication number: 20110288410Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the progress of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy use diagnostic ultrasound to identify temperature differentials using scatterer tracking between two backscattered radio frequency frames. The observed displacement of the scatterers may be combined with knowledge of the exposure protocol, material properties, heat transfer, and/or measurement noise to estimate heating, thermal dose, and temperature conditions resulting from the HIFU therapy.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Gavriel A. Speyer, Andrew A. Brayman, Lawrence A. Crum, Peter J. Kaczkowski
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Patent number: 8016757Abstract: Ultrasound data are collected from a thermal source and a mass of tissue before initiating therapy to measure two parameters of the bio-heat transfer equation (BHTE). The parameters are the thermal diffusivity (K) of the tissue and the magnitude of the thermal source (Q). Once the parameters have been obtained, the BHTE can be calibrated to the specific mass of tissue and the specific thermal source. The calibrated BHTE can be used to generate a temperature dependence curve calibrated to the thermal source and tissue, and spatio-temporal temperature maps, to facilitate pre-therapy planning. During therapy, ultrasound data are collected to determine if Q changes during therapy, and if so, the BHTE is recalibrated using the new Q value, increasing an accuracy of the temperature estimations.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Peter J. Kaczkowski, Ajay Anand
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Publication number: 20030018255Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling substantially bloodless surgery and for stemming hemorrhaging. High intensity focused ultrasound (“HIFU”) is used to form cauterized tissue regions prior to surgical incision, for example, forming a cauterized tissue shell around a tumor to be removed. The procedure is referred to as “presurgical volume cauterization.” In one embodiment, the method is particularly effective for use in surgical lesion removal or resection of tissue having a highly vascularized constitution, such as the liver or spleen, and thus a propensity for hemorrhaging. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus for hemostasis using HIFU is useful in both surgical, presurgical, and medical emergency situations. In an apparatus embodiment, a telescoping, acoustic coupler is provided such that depth of focus of the HIFU energy is controllable. In other embodiments, apparatus characterized by portability are demonstrated, useful for emergency medical situations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Roy W. Martin, Lawrence A. Crum, Shahram Vaezy, Stephen J. Carter, W. Scott Helton, Michael Gaps, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Andrew Proctor, George Keilman
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Patent number: 6432067Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling substantially bloodless surgery and for stemming hemorrhaging. High intensity focused ultrasound (“HIFU”) is used to form cauterized tissue regions prior to surgical incision, for example, forming a cauterized tissue shell around a tumor to be removed. The procedure is referred to as “presurgical volume cauterization.” In one embodiment, the method is particularly effective for use in surgical lesion removal or resection of tissue having a highly vascularized constitution, such as the liver or spleen, and thus a propensity for hemorrhaging. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus for hemostasis using HIFU is useful in both surgical, presurgical, and medical emergency situations. In an apparatus embodiment, a telescoping, acoustic coupler is provided such that depth of focus of the HIFU energy is controllable. In other embodiments, apparatus characterized by portability are demonstrated, useful for emergency medical situations.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignees: University of Washington, Sonic Concepts, Inc.Inventors: Roy W. Martin, Lawrence A. Crum, Shahram Vaezy, Stephen J. Carter, W. Scott Helton, Michael Gaps, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Andrew Proctor, George Keilman
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Patent number: 6315741Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling substantially bloodless surgery and for stemming hemorrhaging. High intensity focused ultrasound (“HIFU”) is used to form cauterized tissue regions prior to surgical incision, for example, forming a cauterized tissue shell around a tumor to be removed. The procedure is referred to as “presurgical volume cauterization.” In one embodiment, the method is particularly effective for use in surgical lesion removal or resection of tissue having a highly vascularized constitution, such as the liver or spleen, and thus a propensity for hemorrhaging. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus for hemostasis using HIFU is useful in both surgical, presurgical, and medical emergency situations. In an apparatus embodiment, a telescoping, acoustic coupler is provided such that depth of focus of the HIFU energy is controllable. In other embodiments, apparatus characterized by portability are demonstrated, useful for emergency medical situations.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Inventors: Roy W. Martin, Lawrence A. Crum, Shahram Vaezy, Stephen J. Carter, W. Scott Helton, Michael Gaps, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Andrew Proctor, George Keilman
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Patent number: 6007499Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enabling substantially bloodless surgery and for stemming hemorrhaging. High intensity focused ultrasound ("HIFU") is used to form cauterized tissue regions prior to surgical incision, for example, forming a cauterized tissue shell around a tumor to be removed. The procedure is referred to as "presurgical volume cauterization." In one embodiment, the method is particularly effective for use in surgical lesion removal or resection of tissue having a highly vascularized constitution, such as the liver or spleen, and thus a propensity for hemorrhaging. In further embodiments, methods and apparatus for hemostasis using HIFU is useful in both surgical, presurgical, and medical emergency situations. In an apparatus embodiment, a telescoping, acoustic coupler is provided such that depth of focus of the HIFU energy is controllable. In other embodiments, apparatus characterized by portability are demonstrated, useful for emergency medical situations.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Roy W. Martin, Lawrence A. Crum, Shahram Vaezy, Stephen J. Carter, W. Scott Helton, Michael Gaps, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Andrew Proctor, George Keilman