Used As An Indicator Of Another Parameter (e.g., Temperature, Pressure, Viscosity) Patents (Class 600/438)
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Patent number: 10772608Abstract: A medical image diagnostic apparatus of embodiments includes processing circuitry configured to: calculate an index value in a region of interest of a subject based on tissue property data collected by scanning on the subject; and determine display characteristics of the region of interest based on the index value.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventor: Yuko Kanayama
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Patent number: 10772607Abstract: A subject information acquisition apparatus includes a converter configured to receive reflected waves from a contrast medium within a target area inside a subject, and a pressure information acquisition unit configured to acquire pressure information within the target area. In this case, the converter receives reflected waves from a contrast medium in each of a first period and a second period in which a pressure within the target area is different from the first period. The pressure information acquisition unit acquires pressure information in the second period within the target area based on a receive signal based on reflected waves in the first period, a receive signal based on a reflected wave in the second period, and pressure information on a region different from the target area, the pressure information being acquired in the first period.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Manjo, Hirofumi Taki, Toru Sato, Masaharu Akao, Kenichi Nagae
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Patent number: 10768285Abstract: A method for obtaining an elastic feature of an object includes inducing a first shear wave in the object by transmitting a first push ultrasound signal which is generated by a probe of an ultrasound apparatus and a first grating lobe signal which relates to the first push ultrasound signal toward the object, transmitting a tracking ultrasound signal to an area of the object where the first shear wave has propagated, receiving, from the object, a reflection signal which relates to the tracking ultrasound signal, measuring a first shear wave parameter which indicates a shear wave characteristic of the first shear wave based on the reflection signal, and obtaining an elastic feature of the object by using the first shear wave parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hwan Shim, Young-tae Kim, Hyung-joon Lim, Yun-sub Jung, Byeong-geun Cheon, Min-Gu Lee
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Patent number: 10758206Abstract: An ultrasound device performs an ultrasound scan to acquire a video clip having images of a portion of a lung. The ultrasound device detects lung sliding in each of the images. The ultrasound device highlights the detected lung sliding in each of the images to generate processed images. The ultrasound device displays at least one of the processed images as one or more of an enhanced B mode image and an enhanced virtual M mode image.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Menachem Halmann, Alexander Sokulin, Peter Lysyansky, Lilach Vanuk, Cynthia Owen, Eunji Kang
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Patent number: 10748285Abstract: There is provided a medical image processing apparatus which includes a first extraction unit configured to extract coronary arteries depicted in images of a plurality of time phases relating to the heart, and to extract at least one stenosed part depicted in each coronary artery; a calculation unit configured to calculate a pressure gradient of each of the extracted coronary arteries, based on tissue blood flow volumes of the coronary arteries; a second extraction unit configured to extract an ischemic region depicted in the images; and a specifying unit configured to specify a responsible blood vessel of the ischemic region by referring to a dominance map, in which each of the extracted coronary arteries and a dominance territory are associated, for the extracted ischemic region, and to specify a responsible stenosis, based on the pressure gradient corresponding to a stenosed part in the specified responsible blood vessel.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Canon Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Takuma Igarashi, Satoshi Wakai, Kazumasa Arakita, Hideaki Ishii, Yasuko Fujisawa, Shigeo Kaminaga, Kenji Hirohata, Junichiro Ooga
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Patent number: 10722215Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device that transmits a push pulse in order to detect shear waves, including a push pulse transmitter, a displacement detector, an evaluator, and a push pulse adjuster. The push pulse transmitter transmits the push pulse based on a transmission profile. The displacement detector repeatedly transmits ultrasound into the subject after the push pulse, receives reflected ultrasound from the subject that corresponds to transmitted ultrasound, and detects displacement due to shear waves caused by the push pulse. The evaluator evaluates shear wave propagation based on detected displacement. The push pulse adjuster adjusts the transmission profile based on evaluation results. When the transmission profile is adjusted, the push pulse transmitter transmits a second push pulse based on the adjusted transmission profile and the displacement detector detects displacement caused by the second push pulse.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Bumpei Toji
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Patent number: 10716476Abstract: Methods are proposed to improve axial resolution in optical coherence tomography (OCT). In one aspect, the method comprises: obtaining a k-space interferogram of an OCT spectral image; uniformly reshaping the k-space interferogram to a quasi-stationary interferogram by extracting a source envelope; fitting a spectral estimation model to the quasi-stationary interferogram; and calculating an axial depth profile using the fitted spectral estimation model.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2015Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xinyu Liu, Linbo Liu
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Patent number: 10682098Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting a disease state of a subject using ultrasound imaging and ancillary information to the ultrasound imaging. At least two quantitative measurements of a subject, including at least one measurement taken using ultrasound imaging, as part of quantified information can be identified. One of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a first predetermined standard, included as part of ancillary information to the quantified information, in order to identify a first initial value. Further, another of the quantitative measurements can be compared to a second predetermined standard, included as part of the ancillary information, in order to identify a second initial value. Subsequently, the quantitative information can be correlated with the ancillary information using the first initial value and the second initial value to determine a final value that is predictive of a disease state of the subject.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Glen W. McLaughlin
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Apparatus and method for characterization of a ductile membrane, surface, and sub-surface properties
Patent number: 10675001Abstract: An ultrasound signal processor uses an excitation generator to cause displacement of a membrane or surface while a series of ultrasound pulses are applied to the membrane or surface. Phase differences between a transmitted signal and received signal are examined to determine the movement of the membrane or surface in response to the applied excitation. An examination of the phase response of the membrane or surface provides a determination as to whether the fluid type behind the membrane or surface is one of: no fluid, serum fluid, or purulent fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Moehring, George A. Gates, Jay A. Chesavage, Rahul Singh -
Patent number: 10674920Abstract: A method of imaging a region of interest of a body, the body having sites outside the region which can produce image clutter. The method includes: generating a first pattern of vibration within the body to produce a localised first displacement at the region and localised first displacements at the clutter-producing sites; while the body undergoes the first displacements, generating ultrasound signals from the region, and detecting the ultrasound signals to generate a first image of the region; generating a second pattern of vibration within the body to produce a localised second displacement at the region and localised second displacements at the clutter-producing sites; while the body undergoes the second displacements, generating ultrasound signals from the region, and detecting the ultrasound signals to generate a second image of the region; and combining the first and second images to produce a third image of the region.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignees: THE INSTITUTE OF CANCER RESEARCH: ROYAL CANCER HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY OF BERNInventors: Jeffrey Colin Bamber, Martin Frenz, Michael Jaeger
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Patent number: 10675002Abstract: A method for reconstructing displacement and strain maps of human tissue of a subject in vivo or other objects includes applying a mechanical deformation for a target area, imaging tissues while deformation is applied on the target area, measuring the axial and lateral displacements and axial, lateral, and shear strains of tissue in the target area, differentiating between tissues of different stiffness and strain responses, and labeling tissues of different stiffness and strain responses. In some embodiments, displacement and strain imaging are performed using a high-resolution, high-speed, highly-accuracy hierarchy recursive displacement tracking from conventional ultrasound brightness mode images. Particularly, this invention relates to the reconstruction of displacement and strain images from conventional ultrasound B-mode images acquired using any ultrasound machine of different manufacturers without the need to use carrier signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Inventors: Ahmed M Ehab Mahmoud, Mohamed Tarek Mohamed Ali
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Patent number: 10667795Abstract: New wearable and non-wearable systems for noninvasive glucose sensing include an ultrasound generator, an ultrasound detector and a feedback unit. Methods for noninvasive glucose sensing using a wearable or nonwearable device include measuring a thickness (geometrical and/or optical) of a target tissue or a time of flight of ultrasound or optical pulses in the target tissue and determining a glucose value from the thickness of the target tissue or the time of flight in the target tissue in accordance with a target tissue thickness (geometrical and/or optical) or time of flight versus glucose calibration curve using new methodology for computing glucose concentrations with or without invasive measurements and simultaneously monitoring and generating a fitness index (FI), a body weight index (BWI), and/or a hydration index (HI).Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Inventor: Rinat O. Ensenaliev
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Patent number: 10646202Abstract: To increase the signal-to-noise ratio for displacements used to estimate the shear speed in patient tissue, constructive interference from multiple shear waves is used. By transmitting acoustic radiation force impulses focused at different locations, the resulting shear waves may constructively interfere within a region of interest. This constructive interference causes a greater amplitude of displacement. The location of this more easily detected greater interference and the difference in time of the transmitted acoustic radiation force impulses are used to estimate the shear wave speed for the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
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Patent number: 10638972Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying medical disorders in one or more subjects are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, sound is transmitted toward a subject and at least a portion of the sound reflected by the subject and is acquired as echo data. The acquired echo data is used to generate a motion waveform having a plurality of peaks detected therein. At feast a portion of the plurality of peaks may be indicative of movement of the subject. One or more medical disorders in the subject can be identified based on, for example, time durations and/or amplitude changes between peaks detected in the motion waveform.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Shyamnath Gollakota, Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, Nathaniel F. Watson
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Patent number: 10639005Abstract: The invention relates to an endoscopic device to be inserted into a body cavity. The endoscopic device includes an elastographic recording means, an inflatable body, and a device for rhythmically changing the volume of the inflatable body.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: DIGITAL ENDOSCOPY GMBHInventor: Fritz Pauker
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Patent number: 10631833Abstract: A base for an ultrasonic system comprises elements adapted to connect either a smart device or a display device to the base such that the base and smart device can be moved as a single unit. The base also comprises an ultrasonic array with at least one element capable of generating a signal in the range of 1 MHz to 15 MHz and a gimbal system configured to allow the ultrasonic array to be tilted relative to the base. The base provides a way for a physician to remotely control the transmitting angle and pressure exerted against the skin of an ultrasound transducer array of an ultrasound scanning system that is handheld by a patient.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: PULSENMORE LTD.Inventor: Lazar Sonnenschein
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Patent number: 10628941Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes: a sectional image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of sectional images in a plurality of sectional directions of a test subject; a primary classification unit that performs a primary classification process of specifying, with respect to each of the plurality of sectional images, the type of a tissue or a lesion to which each pixel of each sectional image belongs; a secondary classification unit that performs a secondary classification process of evaluating results of the primary classification process with respect to each of the plurality of sectional images, with respect to a pixel that is common to the plurality of sectional images, to re-specify the type of a tissue or a lesion to which the pixel that is common to the plurality of sectional images belongs; and a correction unit that corrects a result of the secondary classification process on the basis of an anatomic feature of the tissue or the lesion, or an image feature value thereof.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Takayuki Hashimoto
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Patent number: 10617388Abstract: According to various embodiments, there is provided a probe structure. The probe structure includes a probe configured to emit acoustic energy. The probe structure further includes a load cell underneath and aligned with the probe. The probe structure further includes a probe hub including a cavity for receiving the probe and the load cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Neural Analytics, Inc.Inventors: Roman Flores, II, Matthew Hutter, Gerard Salinas, Michael Costa, Matthew Sylvester
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Patent number: 10599815Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for health condition analysis based on an elasticity detection device. The method includes: sending, by a client, a health condition analysis request to a cloud server, where the health condition analysis request includes individual attribute identification information of a querier; acquiring, by the cloud server, to-be-analyzed data corresponding to the health condition analysis request from a cloud database storing displacement data of each querier, and conducting data analysis on the to-be-analyzed data to obtain health condition information of the querier; and receiving, by the client, the health condition information of the querier sent by the cloud server. Therefore, by virtue of mass displacement data of mass queriers stored in the cloud server, the querier can conveniently learn his/her health condition in time through the client.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignees: WUXI HISKY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., BEIJING FRIENDSHIP HOSPITAL, CAPITAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Yujuan Wang, Jidong Jia, Xiaojuan Ou, Hong You, Jinhua Shao, Jin Sun, Houli Duan
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Patent number: 10588604Abstract: Ultrasound motion-estimation includes issuing multiple ultrasound pulses, spaced apart from each other in a propagation direction of a shear wave, to track axial motion caused by the wave. The wave has been induced by an axially-directed push. Based on the motion, autocorrelation is used to estimate an axial displacement. The estimate is used as a starting point (234) in a time-domain based motion tracking algorithm for modifying the estimate so as to yield a modified displacement. The modification can constitute an improvement upon the estimate. The issuing may correspondingly occur from a number of acoustic windows, multiple ultrasound imaging probes imaging respectively via the windows. The autocorrelation, and algorithm, operate specifically on the imaging acquired via the pulses used in tracking the motion caused by the wave that was induced by the push, the push being a single push.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Hua Xie, Shiwei Zhou, Jean-Luc Robert, Vijay Thakur Shamdasani
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Patent number: 10582911Abstract: For acoustic radiation force ultrasound imaging, multiple displacement profiles for a given location are acquired. Physiological and/or transducer axial and/or lateral motion are accounted for using the displacements from the different acoustic radiation force impulses. For axial motion, a difference between the displacements of the different profiles provides information about motion during displacement at the location caused by just the undesired motion. A more accurate estimate of the undesired motion for removing from the displacement profile is provided. For lateral motion, the displacement profiles are obtained using waves traveling from different directions relative to the given location. An average of velocities estimated from the different profiles removes undesired lateral motion.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
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Patent number: 10578725Abstract: The invention presents methods and instrumentation for measurement or imaging of a region of an object with waves of a general nature, for example electromagnetic (EM) and elastic (EL) waves, where the material parameters for wave propagation and scattering in the object depend on the wave field strength. The invention specially addresses suppression of 3rd order multiple scattering noise, referred to as pulse reverberation noise, and also suppression of linear scattering components to enhanced signal components from nonlinear scattering. The pulse reverberation noise is divided into three classes where the invention specially addresses Class I and Class II 3rd order multiple scattering that are generated from the same three scatterers, but in opposite sequence.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SURF Technology ASInventors: Bjorn A. J. Angelsen, Thor Andreas Tangen
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Patent number: 10572637Abstract: A user authentication apparatus includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform acquirer configured to acquire an authentication ECG waveform of a user to authenticate the user; a filter configured to filter the authentication ECG waveform using a Kalman filter by applying a reference model parameter extracted from a reference ECG waveform to the Kalman filter; and an authenticator configured to compare the filtered ECG waveform and the reference ECG waveform, and determine whether the filtered authentication ECG waveform corresponds to the reference ECG waveform based on a result of the comparing.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chisung Bae, Sang Joon Kim
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Patent number: 10537305Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for detecting amniotic fluid position based on shear wave propagation. Ultrasound image data may be acquired, and shear wave related data for an area corresponding to the acquired ultrasound image data may also be acquired. Identification data associated with one or more particular structures or elements within the area may be generated based on the shear wave related data, and ultrasound imaging during an ultrasound examination may then be controlled based on the identification data. The ultrasound imaging may comprise generating and rendering one or more ultrasound images based on the acquired ultrasound image. The ultrasound examination may be obstetric (OB) ultrasound examination, with the area comprising one or more of: at least portion of a fetus, amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus, and tissue of a mother carrying the fetus.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stefan Denk, Martin Paul Mienkina
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Patent number: 10512762Abstract: An implantable medical device is disclosed that includes a valve seat and a valve member movable with respect to the valve seat. An adjustment circuit assembly includes a resistive element that is coupled to the valve member and operable to position the valve member relative to the valve seat so as to alter the pressure setting in response to a current applied to the resistive element.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.Inventors: William Jeffrey Bertrand, Robert K. Vaccaro, Chun Man Alan Leung, Michael Ayoub, Pierre Jaquier, Laetitia Mayor, Thomas Junker, Guillaume Schmit
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Patent number: 10512450Abstract: Shear wave characteristics are estimated from analytic data. Measures of displacement are converted into complex representations. The magnitude and/or phase components of the complex representation may be used for estimating various characteristics, such as velocity, center frequency, attenuation, shear modulus, or shear viscosity. The zero-phase of the phase component represents an occurrence of the shear wave at that location.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Liexiang Fan
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Patent number: 10485514Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system for shear wave measurement transmits push pulses into tissue for the generation of shear waves. Characteristics of the shear waves such as their velocity of passage through the tissue are measured to assess properties such as tissue stiffness. The measurements are compensated for effects of background motion by sampling echo signals from the tissue at different times and comparing the samples to detect the presence of relative motion between the ultrasound probe and the region of interest where shear waves are detected. Sensed background motion is used to adjust measured shear wave characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: John Douglas Fraser, Hua Xie
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Patent number: 10485515Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device that transmits a push pulse into a subject and detects a shear wave propagating to adjacent tissue by repeating transmission of ultrasound to the subject and reception of reflected ultrasound from the subject, including a displacement detector that obtains reception signals in a time series by transmitting ultrasound to the subject and receiving reflected ultrasound from the subject, subsequent to transmission of the push pulse, and detects a displacement amount of the tissue inside the subject at each point in time at which the reception signals are respectively obtained; a wavefront extractor that extracts, based on the displacement amount of the tissue at each of the points in time, a wavefront of the shear wave at the corresponding point in time; and a wavefront image processor that generates a wavefront image that indicates a wavefront of the shear wave at each of the points in time.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Bumpei Toji
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Patent number: 10433818Abstract: The speed of sound, attenuation, and reflection data obtained through quantitative Transmission ultrasound (QTUS) differs by body tissue type. Skin, fat, gland, duct and connective tissues can be classified based on the sound, attenuation, and reflection data. The system can assign coloration to breast images to provide a color-coded breast tissue volume based on the output of the classifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: QT ULTRASOUND LLCInventors: Bilal Hameed Malik, John Charles Klock, James W. Wiskin, Nasser Charles Pirshafiey, Mark Wayne Lenox
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Patent number: 10420529Abstract: An arrhythmia detection device is provided, which includes: a monitoring probe attached to a subject to be examined; a monitoring unit coupled with the monitoring probe; a first displaying unit which displays ECG parameters obtained by the monitoring unit; an ultrasound probe attached onto a body surface of the subject; an ultrasound imaging unit coupled with the ultrasound probe; an arrhythmia triggering unit which triggers the ultrasound imaging unit to scan the heart of the subject when the monitoring unit detects an arrhythmia; and a second displaying unit which displays the images and/or the parameters of the heart obtained by the ultrasound imaging unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Cheng Wang, Yong Li, Yi Han, Shuo Liu, Liang Chen, Yang Liu, Haibo Song, Jin Liu, Yunxia Zuo
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Patent number: 10420528Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for detecting a viscoelastic parameter of a viscoelastic medium. The method comprises: applying a mechanical vibration at a single predetermined frequency to the viscoelastic medium to generate a shear wave in the viscoelastic medium (101); emitting ultrasonic waves to the viscoelastic medium, and receiving ultrasonic echo signals (102); acquiring maximum displacement data of the shear wave at various depths according to the ultrasonic echo signals (103), each of the maximum displacement data representing a maximum oscillation amplitude of the shear wave when the shear wave propagates to different depths in the viscoelastic medium; fitting each of the maximum displacement data to obtain a maximum displacement attenuation curve (104); and determining the viscoelastic parameter of the viscoelastic medium according to the maximum displacement attenuation curve (105). The method and device can provide a more accurate measurement result of tissue fibrosis.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: WUXI HISKY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Fei Zhai, Jinhua Shao, Jin Sun, Houli Duan, Qiang Wang
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Patent number: 10417788Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatuses for anomaly detection in volumetric images are provided. A two-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to encode slices within a volumetric image, such as a CT scan. The CNN may be trained using an output layer that is subsequently omitted during use of the CNN as an encoder. The CNN encoder output is applied to a recurrent neural network (RNN), such as a long short-term memory network. The RNN may output various indications of the presence, probability and/or location of anomalies within the volumetric image.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: REALIZE, INC.Inventors: Alexander Risman, Sea Chen
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Patent number: 10365246Abstract: Device for the representation, in a frequency-wave number reference frame f-k, of the propagation of an ultrasound wave in a dihedral guide (1), which comprises ultrasound emitters (2) referenced by “Ej” with j an integer varying between 1 and N, N a strictly positive integer and ultrasound receivers (3) referenced by “Ri” with i an integer varying between 1 and M, M a strictly positive integer, the receivers being disposed spatially over a first segment of a straight line according to a regular pitch “A”, which comprises means for processing the signal received by the receivers, originating from the emitters, and in which the processing means comprise means for calculating a modified discrete spatial Fourier transform, for a spatial integration variable “x”, centered in the middle of said first segment and running through the receivers in the direction of increasing x, and for a wave vector k(x) equal to a product k.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignees: Azalée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6Inventors: Ludovic Moreau, Jean-Gabriel Minonzio, Maryline Talmant, Pascal Laugier
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Patent number: 10359323Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature distribution measuring apparatus for measuring a temperature distribution within an object caused by heating the object. A temperature distribution measuring unit (13, 71) measures the temperature distribution in a measurement region within the object, while the object is heated, and a temperature measurement control unit (22) controls the temperature distribution measuring unit such that the measurement region is modified depending on the measured temperature distribution, in order to measure different temperature distributions in different measurement regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Ajay Anand, Balasundar Iyyavu Raju, Shriram Sethuraman, Junbo Li, John Petruzello
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Patent number: 10357223Abstract: A method for quantifying an amount of fat contained in a liver or other tissue of a subject in vivo includes varying the temperature of a target area in a subject, imaging thermal strain of the target area using an ultrasound scanner, and quantifying the amount of fat in the targeted area based on the thermal strain imaging. In some embodiments, the thermal strain imaging is performed using high-resolution, phase-sensitive speckle tracking to differentiate between fat-based tissue and water-based tissue.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducationInventors: Kang Kim, Ahmed M. Mahmoud, Debaditya Dutta
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Patent number: 10345267Abstract: A method of detecting material changes in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data comprises a number of ultrasonic A-scans. The data is processed to identify a plurality of frequency measurements for each of the number of ultrasonic A-scans. A frequency image is displayed using the plurality of frequency measurements. The material changes are represented in the frequency image.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew O'Donnell, Ivan Pelivanov, Steven Kenneth Brady, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, Jill Paisley Bingham, Alan F. Stewart, James C. Kennedy
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Patent number: 10347010Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatuses for anomaly detection in volumetric images are provided. A two-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to encode slices within a volumetric image, such as a CT scan. The CNN may be trained using an output layer that is subsequently omitted during use of the CNN as an encoder. The CNN encoder output is applied to a recurrent neural network (RNN), such as a long short-term memory network. The RNN may output various indications of the presence, probability and/or location of anomalies within the volumetric image.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Inventors: Alexander Risman, Sea Chen
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Patent number: 10338203Abstract: Classification preprocessing is provided for medical ultrasound shear wave imaging. In response to stress, the displacement at one or more locations in a patient is measured. The displacement over time is a curve representing a shift in location. One or more characteristics of the curve, such as signal-to-noise ratio and maximum displacement, are used to classify the location. The location is classified as fluid or fluid tissue, solid tissue, or non-determinative. Subsequent shear imaging may provide shear information for locations of solid tissue and not at other locations.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Liexiang Fan, Paul Freiburger, John Benson
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Patent number: 10327739Abstract: Ultrasound radiation using a single tone burst pulse is applied to a selected location in a tissue region. The induced shear wave is detected in the region and its spectral distribution is calculated and analyzed. This detection may be repeated with other excitation pulses having different widths or different shapes at the same location. The spectral analysis of the detected shear wave is performed according to a nonlinear shear model for solving nonlinearity and viscoelasticity of the tissue at a single location. The detection location can be at one point at a time for imaging two-dimensional or three-dimensional tissue nonlinearities and shear wave properties including nonlinear magnitude variations, nonlinear phase variations, nonlinear coefficients, and viscoelasticity.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Inventors: Yi Zheng, Siping Chen, Tianfu Wang, Xin Chen, Haoming Lin
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Patent number: 10327738Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method for operating the ultrasound imaging apparatus are provided. When providing an elasticity value to a user, the reliability of the elasticity value is provided to the user to enable the user to easily determine whether the elasticity value is an appropriate value.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.Inventors: Ki-wan Choi, Hyoung-ki Lee, Jun-ho Park
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Patent number: 10321894Abstract: The present invention relates to formation of an image indicating viscoelastic characteristics in a specimen by a simple method. Stepwise pressurization in which, after pressure is instantaneously increased to a certain pressure value, the certain pressure value is kept for a certain time period is performed to measure the variation with time of strain distribution in the specimen and to calculate a stress from strain distribution at a saturation measurement time when the effect of the viscosity of a viscoelasticity measurement reference layer is saturated, thereby evaluating the modulus of elasticity and the coefficient of viscosity of a body tissue.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuya Oikawa, Makoto Yamakawa, Tsuyoshi Shiina
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Patent number: 10271910Abstract: A method includes obtaining a fractional flow reserve (FFR) value over a given distance in a patient's vasculature; providing a display of a region of interest of the patient's vasculature; displaying a graphic on the display of the location of the vasculature having a FFR value outside of a predetermined limit; and robotically positioning a medical elongated device proximate the location.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: CORINDUS, INC.Inventors: Tal Wenderow, Jeffrey Lightcap
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Patent number: 10244945Abstract: A method for an optical elastography system converts digital images of an actuated breast into a description of surface motion. The surface motion can subsequently be used to ascertain whether the breast has regions of abnormal stiffness, e.g., indicating a significant likelihood of breast cancer. The steps of the method use a model based segmentation to identify profile of the breast in each image, and for each pair of images computing skin surface motion using an optical flow algorithm. This method eliminates a preliminary step of placing fiducial markers on the subject.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Tiro Medical LimitedInventors: James Geoffrey Chase, Tom Botterill
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Patent number: 10244954Abstract: An implantable subcutaneous device to measure internal body pressure and wirelessly transmit information corresponding to the measured internal body pressure, including a pressure sensor to sense pressure of a particular region of a body of a patient and output a pressure signal corresponding to the sensed pressure, an encoder to receive the pressure signal and encode a signal to produce a sensor information signal to be transmitted to an ex vivo receiver, a transceiver to receive the sensor information signal from the encoder and transmit the sensor information signal to the ex vivo receiver, and a biocompatible housing in which to enclose the pressure sensor, encoder, and transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Arkis Biosciences Inc.Inventors: Chad E. Seaver, James A. Killeffer, James C. Arnott
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Patent number: 10231710Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transmitter, a generator, and an output controller. The transmitter transmits, from an ultrasound probe, push pulses that cause displacement of body tissue according to an acoustic radiation force and transmits, from the ultrasound probe, tracking pulses for observing the displacement of body tissue, which is caused according to the push pulses, in a given scanning area. The generator generates transmission area image data displaying a position to which the push pulses are transmitted. The output controller outputs the generated transmission area image data such that the transmission area image data is superimposed onto medical image data that contains the transmission area.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Yuko Kanayama, Masahiko Yano
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Patent number: 10184865Abstract: A viscosity coefficient calculation device includes a resistivity acquiring part that acquires, for each plurality of periods of time until a specific strains is generated when a load is applied to a sample, a value of deformation resistivity corresponding to an apparent modulus of elasticity when modulus of elasticity considered to be in accordance with Hook's law, and an output part that outputs a value of a viscosity coefficient of the sample from the value of the deformation resistivity for the each plurality of periods of time acquired by the resistivity acquiring part using a relational expression associating the deformation resistivity with the viscosity coefficient, the relational expression being a fractional function for periods of time, the relational expression analytically obtained by substituting the deformation resistivity into a first order differential equation for a stress and a strain obtained from a configuration expression of a viscoelasticity model.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO UNInventors: Atsushi Sakuma, Yuma Sango
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Patent number: 10143446Abstract: A method for eliminating background noises in shear waves and the respective ultrasonic imaging system, the method includes: transmitting a push pulse along a push pulse vector; transmitting a first group of focus track pulses at a first group of a plurality of locations far away from the push pulse vector; receiving a first group of focus echo signals in response to the first group of focus track pulses; and processing the first group of focus echo signals to determine a first group of tissue displacement information varying with time.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Lu Tang, Xiaodong Han, Gang Cheng, Liang Shen
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Patent number: 10092268Abstract: Method and apparatus for quantitative and qualitative determination of heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and central fluid volume. Phonocardiography based technique using multiple transducers and multi-sensor processing algorithms provides a non-invasive method of evaluating the output of the heart. This basic system coupled with additional sensor elements provides a wide range of potential capabilities. A system comprising these techniques in a wearable form provides a non-invasive method of determining hydration status and blood volume status. Phonocardiography augmented with multi-sensor signal processing techniques improves signal quality to analyze heart sounds and associated features (e.g. S1 and S2, amongst others). Noise compensation and cancellation techniques for phonocardiography further improve signal to noise ratio to reject external disturbances.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: INNOVITAL LLCInventors: William Krimsky, Ashish Purekar, Gregory Hiemenz
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Patent number: 10083372Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires a plurality of frames representing ultrasound images starting with an initial frame in time series. The processing circuitry compares a current frame and a previous frame to the current frame for determining the similarity therebetween, and generates a reference frame based on weighting processing on the initial frame and the previous frame using results of the comparison. The processing circuitry implements tracking processing between the reference frame and the current frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Guang Li, Hiroki Yoshiara, Lingying Chen, Zhe Tang
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Patent number: 10076301Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprises: obtaining intravascular data from an intravascular instrument positioned within a vessel of a patient while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position; obtaining an angiographic image of the vessel while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; correlating the intravascular data from the intravascular instrument to locations on the angiographic image; and outputting an enhanced angiographic image of the vessel on a display, the enhanced angiographic image including the angiographic image overlaid with visualizations representing the intravascular data at the correlated locations. Corresponding systems are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATIONInventors: Bret C. Millett, Joe Burnett, Howard David Alpert, Fergus Merritt