Through-transmission (e.g., Time-of-flight) Imaging Patents (Class 600/448)
  • Patent number: 11839508
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system for detecting and locating dental cavitations in jawbones using Through-Transmission Alveolar Ultrasonography (TAU). The apparatus comprises a measuring unit comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a round ultrasonic receiver. The apparatus is a handhold and is configured to define the geometric position of the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic receiver with respect to each other so as to achieve a high-resolution ultrasound image of the jawbone with minimal errors and in order to improve diagnosis of dental cavitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Johann Lechner
  • Patent number: 11740341
    Abstract: A system for ultrasound beamforming is provided, including a sampled analog beamformer, an array of ultrasound transducers, and a high voltage amplifier coupled to the sampled analog beamformer and the array of ultrasound transducers. The sampled analog beamformer includes a sampled analog filter for filtering an incoming analog signal and adding a fractional delay, and transmitting a filtered analog ultrasound signal. The array of ultrasound transducers further transmits the filtered analog ultrasound signal. The high voltage amplifier drives transducers in the array of ultrasound transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikael Mortensen, Eric G. Nestler, J. Brian Harrington, Jeffrey G. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 11058900
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for speeding the softening of the cervix (cervical ripening) by way of application of ultrasound energy. A vaginal transducer may be used to emit pulse-modulated ultrasound energy directed to the cervix. Focused ultrasound energy may be applied transabdominally and directed at the cervix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: Dignity Health, Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Bruce C. Towe, Robert E. Garfield, Shao-Qing Shi
  • Patent number: 10743838
    Abstract: Acoustic signal transmission couplants for use in tomographic, large aperture ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ultrasound are described that couple acoustic signal transducers to body structures for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals. The acoustic signal transmission couplants can conform to the receiving medium (e.g., skin) of the subject such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the transducer. In one aspect, an acoustic coupling medium includes a hydrogel including polymerizable material that form a network structured to entrap an aqueous fluid inside the hydrogel. The hydrogel is structured to conform to the receiving body, and the acoustic coupling medium is operable to conduct acoustic signals between acoustic signal transducer elements and a receiving medium when the hydrogel is in contact with the receiving body such that there is an acoustic impedance matching between the receiving medium and the acoustic signal transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Decision Sciences Medical Company, LLC
    Inventors: Evan Freiburg, Dustin Kruse
  • Patent number: 10653392
    Abstract: An apparent point-source transmit transducers comprises a substantially constant-thickness shell of piezoelectric material in a shape of a spherical-section. Such transducers may be sized such that a single apparent point-source transmit transducer may produce ultrasound waveforms with substantial energy in a medium to be imaged. Use of such transducers in three-dimensional ping-based imaging may permit deeper and higher quality imaging than may be possible with conventional transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MAUI IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Josef R. Call
  • Patent number: 10426429
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for acquiring and providing information about orthopedic features of a body using acoustic energy. In some aspects, an acoustic orthopedic tracking system includes portable acoustic transducers to obtain orthopedic position information for feeding the information to an orthopedic surgical system for surgical operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Decision Sciences Medical Company, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin Kruse, Evan Freiburg, James J. Hayes
  • Patent number: 10330646
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a structure evaluation system includes a plurality of AE sensors, a signal processor, a position locator, a velocity calculator, and an evaluator. The AE sensors detect an elastic wave generated from a structure. The signal processor extracts an AE signal including information on the elastic wave by performing signal processing on the elastic wave detected by the AE sensor. The position locator derives a wave source distribution indicating a distribution of sources of the elastic waves generated in the structure on the basis of the AE signals. The velocity calculator derives a propagation velocity of the elastic wave generated in the structure on the basis of the AE signal. The evaluator evaluates the soundness of the structure on the basis of the wave source distributions and the propagation velocity of the elastic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Kazuo Watabe, Hidefumi Takamine, Tomoki Shiotani
  • Patent number: 9308045
    Abstract: An ablation device includes an antenna assembly having a radiating portion configured to deliver energy from a power source to tissue. The radiating portion has an outer conductor and an inner conductor. The inner conductor is disposed within the outer conductor. The device also includes an imaging device operably coupled to the radiating portion. The imaging device is configured to generate imaging data corresponding to tissue proximate the radiating portion of the antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Steven Kim, Kyle R. Rick, Mani N. Prakash
  • Patent number: 9026196
    Abstract: A method of detecting whether a localization element is within or outside of an introducer sheath generally includes obtaining a localization signal from the localization element and detecting the state of the localization element relative to the sheath based upon the quadrature component of the localization signal. A baseline quadrature component is typically established with the localization element outside of the sheath. When the quadrature component deviates from this baseline value, it is indicative of the localization element being within the sheath. Conversely, when the quadrature component remains relatively close to the baseline value, it is indicative of the localization element being outside of the sheath. In an electrophysiology study, the state information can be used to take corrective action with respect to the data being collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Curran, Anthony D. Hill
  • Patent number: 8989837
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject application include a diagnostic apparatus including one or more antennas disposed on a thorax of a living body to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves through tissue and output signals responsively to the waves that have passed through the tissue. The apparatus may also include processing circuitry configured to process the signals over time so as to measure one or more RF path characteristics of the RF electromagnetic waves. The RF path length may be defined by a length of time required for the RF waves to pass through the thorax to an antenna and/or pass to tissue and reflect therefrom to an antenna, based on the path characteristic to assess a fluid content of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyma Medical Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Uriel Weinstein, Assaf Bernstein, Eyal Cohen
  • Patent number: 8974388
    Abstract: An ultrasound elasticity imaging apparatus includes an elastic data processing section which processes a received signal detected by an ultrasound probe and generates elastic frame data, a display evaluation section which evaluates a display value of the elastic frame data based on various data in the generation of the elastic frame data, a display processing section which performs image processing of the elastic frame data according to the evaluation result by the display evaluation section, and a display section which displays an elastic image based on the elastic frame data processed by the image processing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Osaka, Takeshi Matsumura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Mitsuhiro Oshiki, Okinori Yuasa, Naoyuki Murayama, Tsuyoshi Shiina, Satoshi Tamano, Tsuyoshi Mitake
  • Patent number: 8876716
    Abstract: A method for characterizing tissue of a patient, including receiving acoustic data derived from the interaction between the tissue and the acoustic waves irradiating the tissue; generating a morphology rendering of the tissue from the acoustic data, in which the rendering represents at least one biomechanical property of the tissue; determining a prognostic parameter for a region of interest in the rendering, in which the prognostic parameter incorporates the biomechanical property; and analyzing the prognostic parameter to characterize the region of interest. In some embodiment, the method further includes introducing a contrast agent into the tissue; generating a set of enhanced morphology renderings of the tissue after introducing the contrast agent; determining an enhanced prognostic parameter from the enhanced morphology renderings; and analyzing the enhanced prognostic parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nebojsa Duric, Peter John Littrup
  • Patent number: 8834376
    Abstract: Described herein is the use of ultrasound pulses at different frequencies to track the dispersion properties of intracranial tissues which may have been altered due to traumatic or other neurological brain injury. Dispersive ultrasound does not provide imaging, but it can provide data of significant diagnostic value by using decision support systems that can be trained as a medical diagnostic system for traumatic brain injuries applications to detect specific patterns of dispersion that are associated with specific intracranial injuries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen in right of Canada as Represented by The Minister of Health
    Inventors: Stergios Stergiopoulos, Andreas Freibert, Jason Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140243614
    Abstract: Ultrasound imaging devices and heads up displays, as well and systems utilizing both are described. In some embodiments, ultrasound data or images may be displayed on a heads up display, which may be a head-mounted display. One or more users may manipulate the images. Image capture devices and sensors may also be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Butterfly Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez, Alexander Magary
  • Publication number: 20140135620
    Abstract: The bioinstrumentation apparatus includes a light irradiation unit irradiating a measurement region with light, a light detection unit detecting diffused light from the measurement region, and a computing unit generating a reconstructed image for the interior of the measurement region. The computing unit calculates J coefficients wj set for every pixel of the reconstructed image and more than 0 and not more than 1 (where J is the number of pixels of the reconstructed image) and carries out successive approximation computation by the following iterative formula xj(k+1)=xj(k)+wjdj(k) (where k is an integer from 1 to N, N is the number of times of iterative computation, xj(k) is a pixel value of the jth pixel on the kth iterative computation, and dj(k) is an update amount of the jth pixel on the kth iterative computation) to generate the reconstructed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kudo, Naoya Saito, Yukio Ueda, Kenji Yoshimoto, Yutaka Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8708912
    Abstract: Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an unit 7 for forming time series tomographic images on the basis of a reflection echo signals received by ultrasound probe 2, an unit 8 for obtaining the elasticities of body tissue on the basis of the reflection echo signals and forming elasticity images on times series, an unit 9 for forming a superimposition image on time series by superposing the tomographic image on the elasticity image, an unit 43 for inputting an instruction for controlling superimposition image formation, and an unit 10 for displaying the superimposition image. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further includes a freezing control portion (7, 8) for outputting an image, as a frozen image, selected in response to a freezing instruction for freezing the display operation on time series of any of the tomographic image or the elasticity image input into the input unit to the superimposition image forming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Osaka, Takeshi Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20140058266
    Abstract: A multiple aperture ultrasound imaging system may be configured to store raw, un-beamformed echo data. Stored echo data may be retrieved and re-beamformed using modified parameters in order to enhance the image or to reveal information that was not visible or not discernible in an original image. Raw echo data may also be transmitted over a network and beamformed by a remote device that is not physically proximate to the probe performing imaging. Such systems may allow physicians or other practitioners to manipulate echo data as though they were imaging the patient directly, even without the patient being present. Many unique diagnostic opportunities are made possible by such systems and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Kenneth D. Brewer, Viet Nam Le, Matthew Ouellette, Mathias Blake
  • Patent number: 8617073
    Abstract: Systems and methods for focusing ultrasound through the skull into the brain for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes may be improved by utilizing both longitudinal and shear waves. The relative contribution of the two modes may be determined based on the angle of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Insightec Ltd.
    Inventors: Oleg Prus, Shuki Vitek
  • Patent number: 8607634
    Abstract: A transducer is used to send an ultrasound pulse toward a stone and to receive ultrasound reflections from the stone. The recorded time between a pulse that is reflected from the proximal surface and a pulse that is reflected either from the distal surface of the stone or from a surface supporting the stone is used to calculate the stone size. The size of the stone is a function of the time between the two pulses and the speed of sound through the stone (or through the surrounding fluid if the second pulse was reflected by the surface supporting the stone). This technique is equally applicable to measure the size of other in vivo objects, including soft tissue masses, cysts, uterine fibroids, tumors, and polyps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: University of Washington, University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Michael Bailey, Joel Teichman, Mathew Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8574158
    Abstract: It is disclosed an acoustic tomography method to improve the time of flight estimation, said method comprising the steps of: sequentially triggering a set of N transmitters so as to generate a sequence of N acoustic waves through a volume being scanned; receiving each of said acoustic waves after transmission through said volume with a set of M receivers, which are called received signals; delaying by varying delays the N different said received signals that each receiver receives from the N different transmitters, and adding them together to form a new received signal, which is called transmit-beamformed signal for that receiver; delaying by varying delays the M different said transmit-beamformed signals for each receiver and adding them together at each receiver to form a new signal, which we call transmit-receive-beamformed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    Inventors: Ivana Jovanovic, Ali Hormati, Oliver Roy, Martin Vetterli
  • Publication number: 20130237826
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing an ultrasound scan on a body part and specifically for a portable instrument which directly attaches to the surface of the body. This apparatus provides very high resolution images and greatly increased depth of imaging for high resolution ultrasound of targeted subsurface body tissues with ultrasound image resolution far superior to that of known state of the art ultrasound instruments. Targeted tissues could include but not be limited to joints, ocular structures, and internal organs. The method and apparatus disclosed are also directed towards providing an ultrasound imaging system that can produce high image resolution (down to about 100 ?m) at depths approaching about 50 mm to about 60 mm. The method and apparatus can stabilize and provide accurate determination of the position of the body part relative to the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: ArcScan, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew K. Levien
  • Publication number: 20130226002
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasound probe including a transducer array for transmitting and receiving ultrasound; a diagnostic apparatus body for generating ultrasound images; a communications cable connecting the ultrasound probe and the apparatus body with each other; an apparatus body-side connector for connecting one end of the communications cable with the diagnostic apparatus body; analog-to-digital converters for processing reception signals from the transducer array; an electrical-to-optical conversion unit for converting the processed reception signals into optical signals; an optical fiber provided in the communications cable in order to transmit the reception signals as optical signals; and an optical-to-electrical conversion unit for converting the transmitted reception signals into electric signals. The diagnostic apparatus body generates an ultrasound image based on the reception signals as converted by the optical-to-electrical conversion unit into electric signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: FUJIFILM Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130204137
    Abstract: A method and system for denoising acoustic travel times and imaging a volume of tissue comprising receiving a dataset representative of acoustic waveforms originating from an array of ultrasound emitters and received with an array of ultrasound receivers; for each ultrasound emitter in the array of ultrasound emitters, forming an empirical relative travel time matrix, from the dataset, including a set of relative empirical travel times, each relative empirical travel time corresponding to a pair of ultrasound receivers receiving an acoustic waveform, generating a denoised empirical relative travel time matrix, and extracting a set of denoised absolute travel times from the denoised empirical relative travel time matrix; and rendering an image of the volume of tissue based on an acoustomechanical parameter and the set of denoised absolute travel times corresponding to each ultrasound emitter in the array of ultrasound emitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: DELPHINUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: DELPHINUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130204136
    Abstract: A system and method for imaging a volume of tissue comprising: a modular transducer array, configured to substantially surround the volume of tissue, emit acoustic waveforms toward the volume of tissue, and receive acoustic waveforms scattered by the volume of tissue, comprising a first and a second modular transducer subarray configured to couple to one another; a controller configured to control acoustic signals emitted by the first and the second modular transducer subarrays; an electronic subsystem, coupled to the modular transducer array, comprising a multiplexor and beam-forming elements and configured to receive a set of acoustic data from the first and the second modular transducer subarrays; and a processor configured to analyze the set of acoustic data, determine the distribution of at least one acoustomechanical parameter within the volume of tissue, and render an image of the volume of tissue based on the acoustomechanical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130172753
    Abstract: A multi-modality breast cancer test assembly (20) of the type for detecting the position of potential breast cancer by performing thermography and optical spectroscopy and ultrasound tests (64). A contour recorder (108) takes and stores a contour-shape of the breast and a first contour analysis program (110) analyzes the contour-shape to generate and store a 3D model (112) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate (114) relative to a mass of the breast. At least one diagnostic program (122, 124, 126) initiates the diagnostic tests (60, 62, 64) at the at least one testing coordinate (114) and a data analysis program (128) analyzes the spatial interrelationship of said tests (60, 62, 64) at said testing coordinate (114) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Paul G. Angott
  • Patent number: 8391956
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for one or both of two- or three-dimensional location of the disposition of a sensor coil in a subject including: an array of electromagnetic drive coil sets, each set having two or three dimensionally oriented drive coils; a sensor coil being electromagnetically communicative with the array of electromagnetic drive coil sets; and, a system controller communicative with and adapted to energize one or more of the electromagnetic coils in the array of electromagnetic drive coil sets, the energizing of the one or more of the electromagnetic coils including one or more of energizing the coils singly, or in pairs of x-y and y-z or x-z coils, or in triplets of x-y-z coils while measuring the response of the sensor coil; whereby the system uses the measurements of the responses of the sensor coil to calculate the location and orientation of the sensor coil relative to said drive coil sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Robert D. Zellers, Peter E. Nelson, Charles W. Henry
  • Patent number: 8375797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the operation of a pressure measuring device for the measurement of the pressure in a system through which fluid flows, in particular in an extracorporeal circuit of a medical unit, with the pressure measuring device having a measuring chamber which is bounded by a flexible membrane, through which fluid flows in the operation of the system or which is filled with fluid and also having a pressure sensor connected to the membrane for the purpose of pressure measurement, with the method including the following steps not requiring any intervention of the staff: a. increasing the pressure in the measuring chamber (12) to a pressure value at which the membrane (13) is at least slightly outwardly curved relative to the measuring chamber (12) in the state not connected to the pressure sensor (14) or determining such a pressure value; b: separating the membrane (13) of the measuring chamber (12) from the pressure sensor (14); c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Beden, Itka Bado, Patrick Spalt
  • Patent number: 8380289
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for one or both of two- or three-dimensional location of the disposition of a sensor coil in a subject including: an array of electromagnetic drive coil sets, each set having two or three dimensionally oriented drive coils; a sensor coil being electromagnetically communicative with the array of electromagnetic drive coil sets; and, a system controller communicative with and adapted to energize one or more of the electromagnetic coils in the array of electromagnetic drive coil sets, the energizing of the one or more of the electromagnetic coils including one or more of energizing the coils singly, or in pairs of x-y and y-z or x-z coils, or in triplets of x-y-z coils while measuring the response of the sensor coil; whereby the system uses the measurements of the responses of the sensor coil to calculate the location and orientation of the sensor coil relative to said drive coil sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventors: Robert D. Zellers, Peter E. Nelson, Charles W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20130041252
    Abstract: In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer (212) is configured for one-way only beamforming (112) of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Francois Guy Gerard Marie Vignon, William Tao Shi, Jean-Luc Robert, Ameet Kumar Jain, Luis Felipe Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 8372008
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; a device for determining optimum sound speed values at a lattice point set in a shallower region than a region of interest (ROI) and in the ROI on the basis of an ultrasound detection signal outputted by the ultrasound probe; a device for arithmetically operating a received wave received from the ROI on the basis of the optimum sound speed value; a device for setting an assumed sound speed in the region of interest, obtaining a received wave received from each lattice point on the basis of the assumed sound speed and the optimum sound speed value at the lattice point, and synthesizing received waves at lattice points to obtain a resultant received wave; and a device for determining a local sound speed value in the ROI on the basis of the received wave and the resultant received wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kimito Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 8267866
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access of individuals to a service, device or location in order to restrict access to members of a particular age and/or gender category, by machine-sensing a predetermined biometric characteristic of the individual indicative of the particular age and/or gender category, and utilizing the machine-sensed characteristic for automatically controlling access of the individual. The method and apparatus are particularly suited to controlling access of children to certain Internet sites, TV programs, chat rooms, or other places inappropriate to children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Inventor: Shmuel Levin
  • Patent number: 8226561
    Abstract: Echolocation data is generated using a multi-dimensional transform capable of using phase and magnitude information to distinguish echoes resulting from ultrasound beam components produced using different ultrasound transducers. Since the multi-dimensional transform does not depend on using receive or transmit beam lines, a multi-dimensional area can be imaged using a single ultrasound transmission. In some embodiments, this ability increases image frame rate and reduces the amount of ultrasound energy required to generate an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen McLaughlin, Ting-Lan Ji, David Napolitano
  • Patent number: 8211018
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital beamformer in ultrasound imaging after the process of receiving a digital echo signal. Provided herein is a time multiplexed device and method for beamforming. The device includes an echo data write/read unit, a multi-beam processing unit, a channel data summing unit, and a parameter distributing and synchronizing unit for distributing and synchronizing respective receive parameters to the echo data write/read unit and the multi-beam processing unit through a parameter load bus for each of the beams in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Kang, Zhiyong Guan
  • Patent number: 8206302
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for filling Doppler signal gaps. The method comprises steps of: storing Doppler signals before and after a gap; analyzing spectral characteristics of the Doppler signals to be filled; judging whether the Doppler signals are to be frequency compensated according to the spectral parameters; compensating the Doppler signals; and filling the gap by means of weighting and superposing the frequency compensated Doppler signals to be filled and the original Doppler signals before and after the gap based on the judging result. According to the method of the present invention, the Doppler signals before and after the gap are first subjected to frequency compensation, and then weighted and superposed with the acquired Doppler signals, thus obtaining a continuous spectrogram and audio output and maintaining the original spectral characteristics of the Doppler signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Xin Li
  • Patent number: 8167804
    Abstract: An optimized elastic modulus reconstruction procedure can estimate the nonlinear elastic properties of vascular wall from intramural strain and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements. A noninvasive free-hand ultrasound scanning procedure is used to apply external force, comparable to the force in measuring a subject's blood pressure, to achieve higher strains by equalizing the internal arterial baseline pressure. PWV is estimated at the same location where intramural strain is measured. The reconstructed elastic modulus is optimized and the arterial elastic modulus can be determined and monitored using a simple dual elastic modulus reconstruction procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kang Kim, William F. Weitzel, Jonathan M. Rubin, Congxian Jia, Matthew O'Donnell, Theodore J. Kolias
  • Patent number: 8137274
    Abstract: Methods for applying heat to a region proximate a blood vessel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method can include generating an imaging ultrasound beam adapted to image a blood vessel target and receiving a reflection of the imaging ultrasound beam. The method can also include producing an output signal in response to the reflection of the imaging ultrasonic beam and processing the output signal to identify a location of a treatment zone proximate an outer wall of the blood vessel. Therapeutic energy can be applied to the treatment zone. In some embodiments, the therapeutic ultrasound energy beam can be moved to over-scan the treatment zone. Other methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kona Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Weng, David M Perozek, Jimin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8123688
    Abstract: An angle calculating unit calculates a bending angle of a bone based on a plurality of surface points. A characteristic data calculating unit determines an indication value which reflects a load applied on the bone, a bone length of the bone, and a position of a fractured part. The characteristic data calculating unit calculates, as characteristic data reflecting a mechanical characteristic of the bone, a proportionality constant indicating a ratio between the indication value and the bending angle of the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Sakai, Akimitsu Harada
  • Patent number: 8116848
    Abstract: A surgical navigation system has a computer with a memory and display connected to a surgical instrument or pointer and position tracking system, so that the location and orientation of the pointer are tracked in real time and conveyed to the computer. The computer memory is loaded with data from an MRI, CT, or other volumetric scan of a patient, and this data is utilized to dynamically display 3-dimensional perspective images in real time of the patient's anatomy from the viewpoint of the pointer. The images are segmented and displayed in color to highlight selected anatomical features and to allow the viewer to see beyond obscuring surfaces and structures. The displayed image tracks the movement of the instrument during surgical procedures. The instrument may include an imaging device such as an endoscope or ultrasound transducer, and the system displays also the image for this device from the same viewpoint, and enables the two images to be fused so that a combined image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Ramin Shahidi
  • Patent number: 8070682
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for medical imaging using diffusive optical tomography and fluorescent diffusive optical tomography and ultrasound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the probe comprises emitters and detectors that are inclined at an angle of about 1 to about 30 degrees to a surface of the probe that contacts tissue. In another embodiment, the scanned volume is divided into an inclusion region and a background region. Different voxel sizes are used in the inclusion region and the background region. Appropriate algorithms facilitate a reconstruction of the inclusion region to determine structural and functional features of the inclusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Connecticut
    Inventor: Quing Zhu
  • Patent number: 8062224
    Abstract: A non-invasive method for continuous real-time monitoring of cerebrovascular blood flow autoregulation state includes simultaneous non-invasive monitoring of intracranial blood volume respiratory waves and lung volume respiratory waves, real-time decomposition of intracranial blood volume respiratory waves and lung volume respiratory waves into narrowband sinewave first harmonic components, determination therefrom of the phase shift between intracranial blood volume respiratory wave and lung volume respiratory wave first harmonics' and derivation of cerebrovascular autoregulation state from that phase shift value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: UAB Vittamed
    Inventors: Arminas Ragauskas, Gediminas Daubaris
  • Patent number: 7998075
    Abstract: A non-invasive method for monitoring of cerebrovascular blood flow autoregulation state includes sensing intracranial blood volume waves, filtering a slow wave, respiratory wave, and pulse wave informative components from said intracranial blood volume waves, filtering slow wave and respiratory wave reference components from the pulse wave envelope, calculating a first phase shift between said slow wave informative component and said slow wave reference component, calculating a second phase shift between said respiratory wave informative component and said respiratory wave reference component, and calculating the index of evaluation of the status of cerebral autoregulation state (ICAS) from said first phase shift and said second phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: UAB Vittamed Technologijos
    Inventors: Arminas Ragauskas, Gediminas Daubaris, Vytautas Petkus, Renaidas Raisutis
  • Patent number: 7963919
    Abstract: Synthetic transmit aperture is provided for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. A transducer may have separate transmit and receive elements. Broad beams are transmitted, allowing fewer transmit elements and/or more rapid scanning. A multidimensional receive array generates data in response to sequential transmissions, such as transmissions from different angles. The data is combined to increase resolution. A transducer array with offset transmit elements for forming a transmit line source may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Proulx, Christopher M. Daft, J. Paul Mohr, Walter T. Wilser, Charles E. Bradley, Paul A. Wagner, Igal Ladabaum
  • Patent number: 7938780
    Abstract: An ultrasonic method for indicating a characteristic of intracranial components' volume changes includes the transmission of broadband ultrasound from a transmitting transducer positioned on one side of a human head to a receiving transducer located on another side of the human head with decomposition of the received signal into narrowband components and determination therefrom of group delay, phase angle and attenuation as a basis for derivation of the characteristic of the intracranial media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: UAB Vittamed Technologijos
    Inventors: Arminas Ragauskas, Gediminas Daubaris, Vytautas Petkus, Renaldas Raisutis
  • Publication number: 20110077523
    Abstract: A multi-modality breast cancer test assembly (20) of the type for detecting the position of potential breast cancer by performing thermography and optical spectroscopy and ultrasound tests (64). A contour recorder (108) takes and stores a contour-shape of the breast and a first contour analysis program (110) analyzes the contour-shape to generate and store a 3D model (112) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate (114) relative to a mass of the breast. At least one diagnostic program (122, 124, 126) initiates the diagnostic tests (60, 62, 64) at the at least one testing coordinate (114) and a data analysis program (128) analyzes the spatial interrelationship of said tests (60, 62, 64) at said testing coordinate (114) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Paul G. Angott
  • Patent number: 7859671
    Abstract: There is provided a method for improving contrast and resolution of an optical image of an object obtained by time-resolved techniques such as Time Domain (TD) and Frequency Domain (FD). The method comprises obtaining a Temporal Point Spread Function (TPSF), and determining optical properties of volumes of interest (VOI), each volume being defined by an ensemble of equiprobable effective photon paths corresponding to a time point or time gate of the TPSF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: ART, Advanced Research Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Niculae Mincu
  • Patent number: 7850614
    Abstract: A guiding catheter includes a Doppler sensor disposed at a distal end of a flexible shaft. The Doppler sensor can sense a blood flow turbulence level within a chamber of the heart or a blood vessel of the heart. Detecting changes in a blood flow turbulence level is used to assist guiding of the distal end of the flexible shaft. The Doppler sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor or an optical sensor. The sensor readings may be processed to show turbulence through a time domain or frequency domain presentation of velocity. The sensor readings can be used to modulate an audible waveform to indicate turbulence. The guiding catheter may further include steering apparatus enabling deflection of the distal tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Craig Haldeman
  • Patent number: 7844317
    Abstract: One or more techniques are provided for measuring the motion of an organ in three dimensions. As provided by the technique, the motion of the organ along each dimension may be determined by a suitable methodology. Where sensor-based motion measurements are suitable, one or more sensors may be placed on a patient to measure internal motion of the organ of interest along one or more perpendicular axes. Where image-based techniques are suitable, the motion of the internal organ along a perpendicular axis may determined using pre-acquisition image data or acquisition image data when suitable. Concurrent motion vectors for all three dimensions may be obtained from the motion data acquired for the perpendicular axes by the disparate methodologies. The concurrent motion vectors may be combined to describe the three-dimensional motion of the organ over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Jason A. Polzin
  • Patent number: 7841982
    Abstract: A transmission wave field imaging method, comprising the transmission of an incident wave field into an object, the incident wave field propagating into the object and, at least, partially scattering. Also includes the measuring of a wave field transmitted, at least in part, through an object to obtain a measured wave field, the measured wave field based, in part, on the incident wave field and the object. Additionally, the processing of the measured wave field utilizing a parabolic approximation reconstruction algorithm to generate an image data set representing at least one image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Techniscan, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Johnson, David T. Borup, James Wiskin, Michael J. Berggren
  • Patent number: 7780602
    Abstract: Methods and system for controlling an ultrasound system are described. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data relating to an object and iteratively adjusting acoustic power output of the ultrasound system based on the acquired ultrasound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaohui Hao, Kirstin Nora LaConte
  • Patent number: 7744535
    Abstract: An ultrasound machine processes ultrasonic data according to acoustoelastic properties of the materials to obtain strain information without specific assumptions with respect to the material properties of the measured material or a variety of different material properties normally not obtained by ultrasound machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ray Vanderby, Hirohito Kobayashi