Structure Of Transducer Or Probe Assembly Patents (Class 600/459)
  • Patent number: 10016181
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of creating a three-dimensional image that expresses the shading effect due to leakage, absorption or others of light. The apparatus displays a three-dimensional image of an object based on luminance volume data, and includes: a light source information setting unit configured to set light source data indicating a property of a light source that is set in a three-dimensional space; an optical property setting unit configured to set a weight coefficient indicating an optical property of the luminance volume data with respect to the light source; an illuminance calculation unit configured to calculate an illuminance at a position corresponding to a coordinate of the luminance volume data, based on the optical data and the weight coefficient, and to create illuminance volume data based on the calculated illuminance; and a volume rendering unit configured to create the three-dimensional image from the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Takehiro Tsujita
  • Patent number: 10004478
    Abstract: A method of displaying an ultrasound image may improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis by enabling a user to recognize an accurate direction of a bloodstream. The method includes: obtaining first Doppler data that is generated by transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an echo signal reflected from the object by using a probe; displaying a sound source marker at a first position on a screen; and generating and displaying a first color Doppler image from the first Doppler data in consideration of the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Kwon You, Sung-Yoon Kim, Jun Kim, Gil-Ju Jin
  • Patent number: 10004411
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus and method for measuring a vital sign of a subject are provided. A plurality of frames showing a subject is captured. A region of interest (ROI) on the subject is detected. A vital-sign signal is generated according to the sensing signals related to the ROI. A quality index of the vital-sign signal is evaluated. Whether the subject is a living body is determined according to the quality index. A determination result of determining whether the subject is the living body is used to control a heart-rate measurement operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Tung-Chien Chen, Yu-Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 9993207
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a medical monitoring hub as the center of monitoring for a monitored patient. The hub includes configurable medical ports and serial ports for communicating with other medical devices in the patient's proximity. Moreover, the hub communicates with a portable patient monitor. The monitor, when docked with the hub provides display graphics different from when undocked, the display graphics including anatomical information. The hub assembles the often vast amount of electronic medical data, associates it with the monitored patient, and in some embodiments, communicates the data to the patient's medical records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ammar Al-Ali, Eric Karl Kinast, Bilal Muhsin
  • Patent number: 9986916
    Abstract: A catheter (700, 800, 1206) includes a shaft with distal (808, 906, 1004, 208) and proximal ends (1006). The distal end comprises at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (308, 402, 404, 500, 512, 600, 604, 802, 008) with an adjustable focus for controllably heating a target zone (806, 1014, 1210). A connector (1012) at the proximal end supplies the at least one array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers with electrical power and controls the adjustable focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Max Oskar Köhler, Peter Dirksen, Shunmugavelu Sokka, Ronald Dekker
  • Patent number: 9974952
    Abstract: Sound processor housings, sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed. The housings include a main portion with a power supply receptacle, a seal and power supply receptacle cover. The seal may include a deflectable portion and define a material-free region into which the deflectable portion deflects in response to the application of radial force by the power supply receptacle cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: James P. Goodman, Adam Smith
  • Patent number: 9955947
    Abstract: A device and method for shielding an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe includes a handle having an interior chamber with an open front end and a transducer assembly provided in the chamber. The transducer assembly converts acoustic energy received through the open front end to electrical signals. The ultrasound probe further includes a shielding portion provided between the transducer assembly and an exterior of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Atsushi Morimoto, Scott Kerwin
  • Patent number: 9955948
    Abstract: Provided are capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) probes that use wire bonding. A CMUT probe includes a CMUT chip which includes a plurality of first electrode pads which are disposed on a first surface thereof, a printed circuit board (PCB) which is disposed on the first surface of the CMUT chip and which is configured to expose the plurality of first electrode pads, a plurality of second electrode pads which are disposed on the PCB and which correspond to respective ones of the plurality of first electrode pads, and a plurality of wires which connect each respective one of the plurality of first electrode pads to the corresponding one of the plurality of second electrode pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungchan Kang, Byunggil Jeong, Sangha Park, Hyungjae Shin
  • Patent number: 9949719
    Abstract: An ultrasound scan probe and support mechanism are provided for use in a multi-modality mammography imaging system, such as a combined tomosynthesis and ultrasound imaging system. In one embodiment, the ultrasound components may be positioned and configured so as not to interfere with the tomosynthesis imaging operation, such as to remain out of the X-ray beam path. Further, the ultrasound probe and associated components may be configured to as to move and scan the breast tissue under compression, such as under the compression provided by one or more paddles used in the tomosynthesis imaging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhipeng Zhang, Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg Davis, Weston Blaine Griffin, Ying Mao
  • Patent number: 9950342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) device (1) for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasound waves, comprising at least one CMUT cell (10). The CMUT cell (10) comprises a substrate (13) comprising a first electrode (22), a membrane (15) comprising a second electrode (20), at least one dielectric layer (21, 23) between the first electrode (22) and the second electrode (20), and a cavity (18) formed between the substrate (13) and the membrane (15). The CMUT device (1) further comprises an operating bias voltage source (25) for supplying an operating bias voltage (VB) of a first polarity between the first and second electrode (20, 22) during transmitting and/or receiving ultrasound waves, and a charging voltage source (30) for supplying an additional charging voltage (VC) between the first and second electrode (20, 22), the second polarity being the reverse polarity of the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: George Anthony Brock-Fisher
  • Patent number: 9943675
    Abstract: A method of treating an occlusion at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature comprises providing an ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic catheter has a distal region, a proximal region opposite the distal region, a fluid delivery lumen having at least one opening in the distal region, and an ultrasound radiating member positioned within the distal region. The method further comprises positioning the ultrasonic catheter at the treatment site, such that at least a portion of the distal region is within the occlusion. The ultrasonic catheter further comprises passing a therapeutic compound through the fluid delivery lumen such that the therapeutic compound is delivered to the treatment site. The ultrasonic catheter further comprises emitting ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound radiating member. The emitted ultrasonic energy has an amplitude that is periodically varied between a low amplitude and a high amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: EKOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: George Keilman, Douglas R. Hansmann, Azita Soltani, Richard R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9915555
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor, which can prevent a breakdown caused by the infiltration of water from the outside occurring due to the jet of high-pressure wash water or the like without the deterioration of the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer within the range of the fixing-clamping caused by an elastic member, is obtained. The ultrasonic sensor includes a cylindrical sensor case, an ultrasonic transducer that is disposed close to an opening face in the sensor case and includes a vibration surface, and an elastic member that is provided between the ultrasonic transducer and the sensor case and covers a side surface and a bottom of the ultrasonic transducer. An exposed surface end of the elastic member close to the opening face is formed to be thinner than a portion of the elastic member that covers the side surface of the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Oba
  • Patent number: 9915633
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for non-destructive evaluation of depressions on a surface of an object are provided. One example system includes a measurement apparatus having a two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array, a delay line material, a sealing member position such that the sealing member forms a cavity between the delay line material and a surface of the object, and a liquid inlet for injecting a liquid into the cavity. The example system also includes a processor configured to determine, using ultrasonic signals received from the two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array, at least one property of a depression such as a dent on the surface of an object. The example system may also be configured to provide an output that is indicative of whether the at least one property of the depression satisfies a predetermined criterion. Another example system includes a compressible elastomeric delay line material that conforms to a surface of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Tyler M. Holmes, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard
  • Patent number: 9908702
    Abstract: Some embodiments efficiently locate and map item locations in a distribution site using robots and a set of markers that the robots can scan without cessation of movement. Some embodiments optimally position a robot for item retrieval or placement. The optimal position is determined by affine transform computation or feature mapping. The robot first aligns itself according to the expected item position as indicated by one or more of the markers. The alignment is determined based on size and orientation of the markers in images obtained using the robot's camera. The robot then aligns itself according to the actual item position. Here, the repositioning is determined based on size and orientation of the actual item in images obtained using the robot's camera. Using the robot cameras and feature mapping, robots can traverse the shelves to identify and map item location therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: inVia Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lior Elazary, Randolph Charles Voorhies, Daniel Frank Parks, II
  • Patent number: 9907538
    Abstract: A high frequency ultrasound probe includes a substrate having a number of transducer elements on it and a ground plane that is electrically coupled by one or more vias to a conductive frame that supports the substrate. The conductive frame is electrically coupled to a ground plane of a printed circuit having conductors that are coupled to the transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Christopher Chaggares, Eric Rieder
  • Patent number: 9901324
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe connected to various diagnostic apparatuses and a method of operating the ultrasound probe. The includes transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving a response signal reflected from the object; acquiring information regarding a diagnostic apparatus connected to the ultrasound probe; determining a type of data that may be processed by the diagnostic apparatus based on the information regarding the diagnostic apparatus; generating transmission data corresponding to the determined type of data from the response signal; and transmitting the transmission data to the diagnostic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Cho, Se-tae Kim, Ho-san Han
  • Patent number: 9895136
    Abstract: According to the present embodiment, the ultrasound probe includes a piezoelectric vibrator, an open/short switching board, a short terminal, and a GND terminal. Then, the open/short switching board and the short terminal switch between a short state in which the electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator is connected to the GND terminal and an open state in which the electrode of the piezoelectric vibrator is not connected to the GND terminal, at any timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Aoki
  • Patent number: 9897480
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing data including a data compressor configured to compress ultrasonic data, and store the compressed ultrasonic data in a memory; and a data decompressor configured to read the stored ultrasonic data from the memory, decompress the read ultrasonic data, and transfer the decompressed ultrasonic data to a processor configured to perform beamforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Soo Kim, Do Hyung Kim, Chang Yong Son, Kang Eun Lee, Shi Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9891820
    Abstract: A method for controlling a virtual keyboard on a display screen of a computerized system includes obtaining data from a touchpad. The data is associated with the location and movement of a finger and/or hand of a user when the user operates the computerized system using the touchpad. The method includes communicating the data from the touchpad to the computerized device, the touchpad being located in a location that is different from the location of the display screen. The method further includes analyzing the data in accordance with a model of a human hand, and assigning the data to at least one of a plurality of fingers of the model. The method also includes generating a virtual keyboard on the display screen and repositioning the virtual keyboard according to either a verbal command from the user or a user input from the touchpad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Handscape Inc.
    Inventor: Tong Luo
  • Patent number: 9883848
    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: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAUI IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Josef R. Call
  • Patent number: 9885690
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection tool has a chassis with a two part body, an aperture for providing a clear line of sight between an array and a workpiece, and a series of feet for sliding along the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Neil Hankinson, Richard Freemantle
  • Patent number: 9877702
    Abstract: An ultrasound observation apparatus including a displacement calculating section that measures displacement of a subject based on an ultrasound signal, an elastic-image generating section that generates an elastic image based on the measured displacement, a memory section that stores generated one or more elastic images, a determination-region setting section that sets a proper-image determination region for proper image determination in the elastic image according to a size of an ROI, a characteristic calculating section that calculates a region characteristic of the proper-image determination region, and a proper-image determining section that determines based on the region characteristic whether the elastic image is a proper image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miyake
  • Patent number: 9867596
    Abstract: A body-cavity-insertion-type probe wherein an electronic circuit board is provided via a relay board on a back surface side of an oscillator unit. A backing member is joined to a center region of a back surface of the electronic circuit board. A wiring sheet is joined to a peripheral region of the back surface. A rear wing and a front wing of the wiring sheet surround a backing case, and a right wing and a left wing of an exhaust heat sheet protrude outward via two slits formed in a heat dissipation shell and are fixed on an outer surface of the heat dissipation shell. Heat generated by the electronic circuit board is transmitted to the heat dissipation shell via the exhaust heat sheet or the backing case, and heat is dissipated by the heat dissipation shell as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Toru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9861358
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument, which includes a handle assembly and an elongate member having two jaw members. The second jaw member is movable in relation to the first jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member is supported by the elongate body and contains a plurality of fasteners. The elongate member extends distally from the handle assembly and defines both a longitudinal axis and a distal portion. A switch is placed about the handle assembly to allow the handle assembly to operate in multiple modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Stanislaw Marczyk, Russell Pribanic, Adam J. Ross, Michael A. Zemlok
  • Patent number: 9855095
    Abstract: A catheter includes a braid assembly having a dual-laminate coating. The braid assembly includes a plurality of braid members interwoven to provide for interstices between the braid members, each braid member having an electrically conductive element, a flexible non-electrically-conductive polymer coating that insulates the electrically conductive element and a thermoplastic bonding adhesive coating. The braid assembly is formed between an inner polymer layer and an outer polymer layer. One or more of the braid members may be coupled to an energy delivery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Howat, Alan Fuentes
  • Patent number: 9855023
    Abstract: The control panel and display of a cart-borne ultrasound system are support by a lift which can be controlled to allow the control panel and display to be raised, lowered, and rotated. The lift has a first pivot elbow mounted to the ultrasound system cart and a second pivot elbow on which the control panel and display are mounted. A four-bar linkage is coupled between the pivot elbows which enables to control panel and display to be raised and lowered while maintaining the inclination of the control panel. The pivot elbows allow the control panel and display to be turned and rotated. A pair of hydraulic struts are mounted to the four-bar linkage to support the weight of the control panel and display. When a control button on the handle of the control panel is depressed the control panel and display can be freely raised, lowered and rotated. When the control button is released the pivot elbows and four-bar linkages are locked in their current positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Messina, David Dolan, Daniel van Alphen, Thomas James Hunt, Brent Jordan
  • Patent number: 9848849
    Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a display device and a processor module. The display device is configured to display an ultrasound image. At least a portion of the display device includes a touch sensitive portion that is responsive to a touch in each of a plurality of user selectable elements presented on the display device. The processor module is configured to adjust at least one of the ultrasound image and an imaging setting based on the touch in at least one of the user selectable elements of the display device. The ultrasound image and the user selectable elements are concurrently displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Pfeiffer, Brent Jason Lavin, Kimberly A. Canova
  • Patent number: 9841502
    Abstract: A probe is described for analyzing a target using an array of transceivers formed of transmitter/receiver pairs. As opposed to the prior art, the high voltage trigger signals from used to trigger the transmitters are separated from the output signals of the receivers thereby resulting in a simpler and more efficient circuitry. Moreover, the output signals are delayed to compensate for the delays in the echo signals from the target due to the varying distance between the different transceivers and the target. The probe can be used for analyzing pathological organs, as well as many other objects such as gas pipes, airplane wings, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: NOBLE SENSORS, LLC
    Inventors: Gaurav Pandey, Martin J. Weinberg, Richard S. Koplin
  • Patent number: 9833126
    Abstract: A balloon access device for use with an endoscope is disclosed. A transparent balloon attached to the distal end of the endoscope allows a user to both separate collapsed intestinal tissue and visualize the path of the endoscope without administering insufflation gas to the collapsed area of a patient. The attachment of the balloon to the endoscope is achieved by the various embodiments of the balloon access device disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Visualization Balloons, LLC
    Inventor: Boris Reydel
  • Patent number: 9833218
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method includes emitting ultrasonic pulses in different directions and acquiring ultrasonic echo signals from an object, calculating an attenuation rate of the ultrasonic echo signals, correcting the acquired ultrasonic echo signals based on the attenuation rate, and outputting the corrected ultrasonic echo signals as an ultrasonic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Ihn Kho, Sun Kwon Kim, Sung Chan Park, Hee Sae Lee
  • Patent number: 9826961
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer element package includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a support body, and first and second ultrasonic transducers. The first substrate has first and second openings that are aligned in a first direction. The second substrate has a third and fourth openings that are aligned in the first direction. The support body supports the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are aligned in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, with a space therebetween. The first and Second ultrasonic transducer elements are configured at the first and second openings respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Onishi
  • Patent number: 9832037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting an internal register of an integrated circuit (IC) via a multiplexed pin which also passes an RF signal is provided. An internal RF signal path couples the pin to an internal terminal for the RF signal, and a register setting signal path couples the pin to an internal register. The internal register may be an address register, such as a USID address register of a MIPI RFFE bus. A capacitor on the RF signal path may block the constant voltage, and a resistor or inductor on the register setting signal path may block the RF signal. The integrated circuit may include an RF section and a controller section, where the controller section may be used to control the RF section. The controller section is responsive to an address associated with the address register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sierra Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Behrouz Pourseyed, Markus Myers
  • Patent number: 9832510
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable storage mediums including computer-readable instructions and/or circuitry for generating deceptive indicia profiles may implement operations including, but not limited to: detecting one or more indicia of deception associated with one or more signals associated with communication content provided by a participant in a first communications interaction; detecting one or more indicia of deception associated with one or more signals associated with communications content provided by the participant in a second communications interaction; generating a deceptive indicia profile for the participant according to indicia of deception detected in the communications content provided by the participant in the first communications interaction and indicia of deception detected in the communications content provided by the participant in the second communications interaction; and providing a notification associated with the deceptive indicia profile for the participant to the participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha, LLC
    Inventors: Clarence T. Tegreene, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud
  • Patent number: 9801610
    Abstract: An ultrasound device captures skeleton density information. This ultrasound device includes at least two transmitters 100, 102 having a distance of L1 between them for transmitting ultrasound signals into the skeleton, at least two receivers 104 having a distance of L2 between them for receiving ultrasound signals from the skeleton, as the calibrated known distance L is at least one of distances L1 and L2. The ultrasound device also includes a processing unit 101 for calculating a ultrasound velocity in the skeleton for forming skeleton density information on the basis of the ultrasound signals received by the receivers 104, 106 by dividing known distance by an average of a travel time difference for a ultrasound signal between the receivers 104, 106 receiving the ultrasound signal from the first transmitter 100 and the second transmitter 102.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Oscare Medical Oy
    Inventor: Jussi Pukki
  • Patent number: 9799818
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound probe capable of efficiently discharging heat generated in a plurality of piezoelectric elements to the outside. A heat collecting portion that includes at least one heat conducting path and is formed of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than a backing member collects heat from a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a heat exhausting portion connected to the heat collecting portion discharges the heat collected in the heat collecting portion to the outside. The heat conducting path extends in a thickness direction within the backing member and has a distal end exposed from the top surface of the backing member facing the bottom surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Osawa
  • Patent number: 9757090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of e.g. ultra-sound imaging. In particular the present invention relates to a device for supporting an ultrasound probe or probe with other contrast imaging technology, preferably during heart imaging. The device comprises a fixation part comprising an aperture for receiving the probe. The device also comprises at least two skin supports (2, 3) for supporting the probe against a tissue of a human or animal bodily organ. The fixation part is positioned above the skin supports and a cavity (4) between the skin supports (2,3) are provided for allowing the probe to perform measurements of the organ. In addition the invention relates to a handle for operating the device a system comprising a probe, the device and the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Region Nordjylland, Aalborg Sygehus
    Inventors: Niels Henrik Staalsen, Jan Jesper Andreasen
  • Patent number: 9743904
    Abstract: An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5? to 10? are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: The Cooper Companies Global Holdings LP
    Inventor: Stephen James Field
  • Patent number: 9730591
    Abstract: A removable wrist device in a continuous physiological monitoring system includes a mounting fixture with a pair of rails to securely retain another device, such as a battery, a watch, or a display. The rails may be curved to secure the device against displacement during purely translational movement while conveniently conforming to the shape of a wrist. At the same time, the rails can permit movement around the axis of the wrist (where significant rotational forces are not regularly encountered) to permit convenient attachment and removal of the other device to the wrist-mounted device through a rotational, sliding motion. This configuration provides an advantageous combination of ease of use (sliding on and off in a natural motion), mounting tenacity, and comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Whoop, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ahmed, John Capodilupo, Aurelian Nicolae, Rinat Aruh, Carl Johan Liden, Brett Tobias Tom
  • Patent number: 9717547
    Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen Morse
  • Patent number: 9707034
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating gastroesophageal reflex and other luminal conditions provide for delivering acoustic energy to a body lumen to remodel tissue surrounding the body lumen. In the case of treating GERD, a catheter carrying an ultrasonic or other vibrational transducer is introduced to the lower esophageal sphincter, and acoustic energy is delivered to the sphincter in order to tighten or bulk the sphincter such that reflex is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ReCor Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan K Schaer
  • Patent number: 9700283
    Abstract: A medical ultrasound imaging catheter is stiffened for introduction into the patient. An insert is mated with the array. The insert may stiffen the catheter at the array, avoiding damage due to buckling. The insert is keyed to the array in order to fix the orientation of the array, such as using a support for twisting the array as the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Lex J. Garbini
  • Patent number: 9702855
    Abstract: A system is provided including an acoustic interface device, configured for coupling to a transducer and to a specimen, the acoustic interface device comprising a material composition having a shear wave attenuation coefficient ?S of at least about 5 dB/cm when subjected to an acoustic signal at a frequency between about 200 to 500 kHz. The acoustic interface device may be formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), a perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), polycarbonate (Lexan®), or polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Methods of using the acoustic interface device with a transducer for ultrasonic measurement of a specimen are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Wei Han, Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 9698705
    Abstract: To suggest an electromechanical transducer device with a high S/N ratio, an electromechanical transducer device includes a first substrate; electromechanical transducer elements two-dimensionally arrayed on a front surface of the first substrate and configured to provide conversion between acoustic waves and electric signals; an electric wiring substrate that is a second substrate electrically connected with a back surface of the first substrate; a first acoustic matching layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an acoustic attenuating member arranged on a back surface of the second substrate; and a second acoustic matching layer provided between the second substrate and the acoustic attenuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Akiyama, Chienliu Chang
  • Patent number: 9687204
    Abstract: A method and system for registering ultrasound images and physiological models to x-ray fluoroscopy images is disclosed. A fluoroscopic image and an ultrasound image, such as a Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) image, are received. A 2D location of an ultrasound probe is detected in the fluoroscopic image. A 3D pose of the ultrasound probe is estimated based on the detected 2D location of the ultrasound probe in the fluoroscopic image. The ultrasound image is mapped to a 3D coordinate system of a fluoroscopic image acquisition device used to acquire the fluoroscopic image based on the estimated 3D pose of the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound image can then be projected into the fluoroscopic image using a projection matrix associated with the fluoroscopic image. A patient specific physiological model can be detected in the ultrasound image and projected into the fluoroscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Mountney, Markus Kaiser, Ingmar Voigt, Matthias John, Razvan Ioan Ionasec, Jan Boese, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Patent number: 9683973
    Abstract: A non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDI) system and method operable to conduct an ultrasonic scanning test on a test object that synchronizes and merges the apertures of two or more NDT sub-instruments in frequency and phase. Disclosed are a method of using a Phased Lock Loop (PLL) as a synchronizing clock/trigger generator, and also a method of using a General Positioning Clock (GPS) and a pulse per second (PPS) output. Both methods combine ultrasonic scanning data acquisition from two or more NDT sub-instruments, and transform the sub-instruments into one bigger NDT instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Scientific Solutions Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Simard, Benjamin Couillard
  • Patent number: 9675323
    Abstract: There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, particularly a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a linear motor, a shaft or filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Muffin Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter S. McKinnis, Yun Zhou, Sarah Robbins, Neal E. Fearnot
  • Patent number: 9636710
    Abstract: An ultrasound element includes a silicon substrate, a lower electrode layer that has a plurality of lower electrode sections, and a plurality of lower wiring sections, and is connected to a lower electrode terminal to which a drive signal and a bias signal are applied, a lower insulating layer, an upper insulating layer in which a plurality of cavities smaller than the respective lower electrode sections are formed, an upper electrode layer that has a plurality of upper electrode sections that are disposed to face the respective lower electrode sections via the respective cavities, and are smaller than the lower electrode sections and larger than the cavities, and a plurality of upper wiring sections, and is connected to an upper electrode terminal at a ground potential that detects a capacitance signal, and a protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Matsumoto, Kazuhisa Karaki, Mamoru Hasegawa, Katsuhiro Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9636133
    Abstract: An ultrasound therapy system is provided that can include any number of features. In some embodiments, the custom transducer housings can be manufactured using a rapid-prototyping method to arrange a plurality of single-element, substantially flat transducers to share a common focal point. The rapid-prototyping method can include, for example, fused-deposition modeling, 3D printing, and stereolithography. In some embodiments, the therapy system can include a plurality of transducer modules insertable into the openings of the transducer housing. Methods of manufacture are also described, including designing a transducer housing shell to a desired geometry and a plurality of acoustic focusing lenses integral to the transducer housing shell in a 3D computer aided design software, and constructing the transducer housing shell and the plurality of acoustic focusing lenses integral to the transducer housing shell using a rapid-prototyping method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Timothy L. Hall, Adam Maxwell, Charles A. Cain, Yohan Kim, Zhen Xu
  • Patent number: 9622681
    Abstract: In a medical apparatus including a medical imaging system and a medical position and navigation system (MPS), the medical imaging system including an imaging transmitter, periodically emitting imaging radiation and an imaging detector, the medical position and navigation system including at least one MPS transmitter periodically transmitting MPS radiation and at least one MPS detector, the MPS radiation electromagnetically interfering with at least one mode of operation of the imaging detector, a device for eliminating interference to the imaging detector caused by positioning radiation, the device comprising a synchronizer, coupled with the medical imaging system and with the medical position and navigation system, synchronizing the imaging detector and each the at least one MPS transmitter, so that neither of the at least one MPS transmitter transmits during the at least one mode of operation of the imaging detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MediGuide Ltd.
    Inventors: Uzi Eichler, Eitan Oren
  • Patent number: 9615815
    Abstract: Adaptors for ultrasound probes can have an adaptor body can have an open lower end that allows a distal end of the ultrasound probe to extend therethrough to contact skin of a patient. The adaptor can include a plurality of spaced apart resilient members held by the adaptor body that, in operation, are able to change in length such that the resilient members translate from a first longer length to a second shorter length when the probe applies compressive force to the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
    Inventors: David Kwartowitz, Erika Trent, Fuad Mefleh, Vipul Pai Raikar, Delphine Dean