Patents by Inventor Tyler S. Ralston
Tyler S. Ralston 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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Publication number: 20240120891Abstract: A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper, Tyler S. Ralston
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Publication number: 20240100565Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
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Publication number: 20240069181Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein related to controlling, using control circuitry, modulation circuitry to modulate and delay first ultrasound data generated by first ultrasound transducers positioned at a first azimuthal position of an ultrasound transducer array of an ultrasound device and second ultrasound data generated by second ultrasound transducers positioned at a second azimuthal position of the ultrasound transducer array of the ultrasound device, such that the first ultrasound data is delayed by a first delay amount and the second ultrasound data is delayed by a second delay amount that is different from the first delay amount. The first and second ultrasound data received from the modulation circuitry may be filtered and summed. The ultrasound transducer array, the control circuitry, the modulation circuitry, the filtering circuitry, and the summing circuitry may be integrated onto a semiconductor chip or one or more semiconductor chips packaged together.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Nevada J. Sanchez, Liewei Bao, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11914079Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Tyler S. Ralston, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper
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Publication number: 20240044846Abstract: An ultrasound device includes: ultrasonic transducer cavities; a membrane comprising a silicon layer that seals the ultrasonic transducer cavities; electrode regions configured to control vibration of the membrane; and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) substrate including integrated circuitry that is electrically coupled to the electrode regions. The ultrasonic transducer cavities are disposed between the membrane and the integrated circuitry along a vertical direction of the ultrasound device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11863133Abstract: A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11857368Abstract: A processing device is coupled to a single ultrasound device having a single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs). The processing device generates a graphical user interface (GUI) having user selectable GUI menu options corresponding to respective ultrasound operating modes for the single ultrasound device having the single ultrasound transducer array. The user-selectable GUI menu options include GUI menu options labeled as representing an ultrasound operating mode for musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, carotid imaging, vascular imaging, and abdominal imaging, respectively. The processing device further receives, via the GUI, user input indicating selection of one of the ultrasound operating modes, and in response to receiving the user input, provides an indication to the single ultrasound device having the single array of CMUTs to operate in the selected ultrasound operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife
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Publication number: 20230417788Abstract: The present application discloses a measurement device incorporating a modular microfluidic system comprising standard modules which can be networked together via standardised connectors in a range of configurations. The measurement device includes a master microfluidic module connectable to an external pressure source, which has a socket for receiving a reagent cartridge, and can be used to drive flow of reagent from the reagent cartridge to an analysis chip. The master microfluidic module also has specialised pressure output and reagent input connectors which can be attached to secondary microfluidic modules, so that the master microfluidic modules can drive reagent from the secondary microfluidic modules to an analysis chip supported on the main microfluidic module. The application also describes a range of specialised cartridge types for use with the measurement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2021Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Oxford Nanoimaging LimitedInventors: Bo Jing, Armando Arpys Arevalo Carreno, Benjamin Thomas Whiteley, Issac Michael, Eric A. Warner, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11833542Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: BFLY Operations, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
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Patent number: 11828729Abstract: Micromachined ultrasonic transducers integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrates are described, as well as methods of fabricating such devices. Fabrication may involve two separate wafer bonding steps. Wafer bonding may be used to fabricate sealed cavities in a substrate. Wafer bonding may also be used to bond the substrate to another substrate, such as a CMOS wafer. At least the second wafer bonding may be performed at a low temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston
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Publication number: 20230366959Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11808897Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein related to controlling, using control circuitry, modulation circuitry to modulate and delay first ultrasound data generated by first ultrasound transducers positioned at a first azimuthal position of an ultrasound transducer array of an ultrasound device and second ultrasound data generated by second ultrasound transducers positioned at a second azimuthal position of the ultrasound transducer array of the ultrasound device, such that the first ultrasound data is delayed by a first delay amount and the second ultrasound data is delayed by a second delay amount that is different from the first delay amount. The first and second ultrasound data received from the modulation circuitry may be filtered and summed. The ultrasound transducer array, the control circuitry, the modulation circuitry, the filtering circuitry, and the summing circuitry may be integrated onto a semiconductor chip or one or more semiconductor chips packaged together.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Nevada J. Sanchez, Liewei Bao, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11808899Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for implementing a coding scheme on ultrasound signals received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The coding, and subsequent decoding, may allow for multiple ultrasonic transducers to be operated in a receive mode simultaneously while still differentiating the contribution of the individual ultrasonic transducers. Improved signal characteristics may result, including improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INCInventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper
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Patent number: 11768282Abstract: Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multilevel pulser is described, which can provide bipolar pulses of multiple levels. The multilevel pulser includes a pulsing circuit and pulser and feedback circuit. Symmetric switches are also described. The symmetric switches can be positioned as inputs to ultrasound receiving circuitry to block signals from the receiving circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INCInventors: Kailiang Chen, Tyler S. Ralston, Keith G. Fife
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Patent number: 11737665Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide improved techniques for imaging a subject's retina fundus. Some aspects relate to an imaging apparatus that may be substantially binocular shaped and/or may house multiple imaging devices configured to provide multiple corresponding modes of imaging the subject's retina fundus. Some aspects relate to techniques for imaging a subject's eye using white light, fluorescence, infrared (IR), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and/or other imaging modalities that may be employed by a single imaging apparatus. Some aspects relate to improvements in white light, fluorescence, IR, OCT, and/or other imaging technologies that may be employed alone or in combination with other techniques. Some aspects relate to multi-modal imaging techniques that enable determination of a subject's health status.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Tesseract Health, Inc.Inventors: Tyler S. Ralston, Maurizio Arienzo, Owen Kaye-Kauderer, Benjamin Rosenbluth, Jonathan M. Rothberg, Lawrence C. West, Paul E. Glenn
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Patent number: 11740302Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
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Patent number: 11733363Abstract: Programmable ultrasound probes and methods of operation are described. The ultrasound probe may include memory storing parameter data and may also include a parameter loader which loads the parameter data into programmable circuitry of the ultrasound probe. In some instances, the ultrasound probe may include circuitry grouped into modules which may be repeatable and which may be coupled together to allow data to be exchanged between the modules.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: BFLY Operations, IncInventors: Tyler S. Ralston, Andrew J. Casper, Nevada J. Sanchez
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Patent number: 11712221Abstract: A system comprising a multi-modal ultrasound probe configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes associated with a respective plurality of configuration profiles; and a computing device coupled to the handheld multi-modal ultrasound probe and configured to, in response to receiving input indicating an operating mode selected by a user, cause the multi-modal ultrasound probe to operate in the selected operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife
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Patent number: 11684949Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
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Publication number: 20230172582Abstract: A processing device is coupled to a single ultrasound device having a single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs). The processing device generates a graphical user interface (GUI) having user selectable GUI menu options corresponding to respective ultrasound operating modes for the single ultrasound device having the single ultrasound transducer array. The user-selectable GUI menu options include GUI menu options labeled as representing an ultrasound operating mode for musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, carotid imaging, vascular imaging, and abdominal imaging, respectively. The processing device further receives, via the GUI, user input indicating selection of one of the ultrasound operating modes, and in response to receiving the user input, provides an indication to the single ultrasound device having the single array of CMUTs to operate in the selected ultrasound operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife