Patents by Inventor William M. Spees

William M. Spees 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).

  • Imaging nerve function and pathologies using diffusion basis spectrum imaging
    Patent number: 11426073
    Abstract: Repetitive electrical activity produces microstructural alteration in myelinated axons. These transient microstructural changes can be non-invasively visualized via two different magnetic-resonance-based approaches: diffusion fMRI and dynamic T2 spectroscopy in the ex vivo perfused bullfrog sciatic nerves. Non-invasive diffusion fMRI, based on standard diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), clearly localized the sites of axonal conduction blockage as might be encountered in neurotrauma or other lesion types. Diffusion fMRI response was graded in proportion to the total number of electrical impulses carried through a given locus. Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) method revealed a reversible shift of tissue water into a restricted isotropic diffusion signal component, consistent with sub-myelinic vacuole formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Sheng-Kwei Song, William M. Spees, Tsen-Hsuan Lin, Peng Sun, Chunyu Song
  • IMAGING NERVE FUNCTION AND PATHOLOGIES
    Publication number: 20190328231
    Abstract: Repetitive electrical activity produces microstructural alteration in myelinated axons. These transient microstructural changes can be non-invasively visualized via two different magnetic-resonance-based approaches: diffusion fMRI and dynamic T2 spectroscopy in the ex vivo perfused bullfrog sciatic nerves. Non-invasive diffusion fMRI, based on standard diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), clearly localized the sites of axonal conduction blockage as might be encountered in neurotrauma or other lesion types. Diffusion fMRI response was graded in proportion to the total number of electrical impulses carried through a given locus. Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) method revealed a reversible shift of tissue water into a restricted isotropic diffusion signal component, consistent with sub-myelinic vacuole formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Washington University
    Inventors: Sheng-Kwei Song, William M. Spees, Tsen-Hsuan Lin, Peng Sun, Chunyu Song