Patents Assigned to FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZED USER INTERFACE
    Publication number: 20220026548
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling an ultrasound device. The method, for example, can include indexing a location of a part of a palm of the operator on the user interface. The method can also include indexing locations of one or more fingers of an operator on a user interface based on the location of the part of the palm. The method can further include assigning one or more functions of the ultrasound device to the indexed locations of the one or more fingers on the user interface. In addition, the method can include sensing the one or more fingers of the operator near or on the indexed locations on the user interface. The method can also include performing the assigned one or more functions based on sensing the one or more fingers of the operator near or on the indexed locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: SARA AKIKO PROKOP
  • Electronics board mounting system
    Patent number: 11231751
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods for mounting PCBs and other electronics boards in portable medical equipment and/or other portable and non-portable electronic devices are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the technology disclosed herein can provide PCB mounting systems that isolate the PCB from detrimental shock, vibration, and/or strain, while also providing electrical ground paths that greatly reduce EMI and other electrical disturbances. Some embodiments of the mounting systems described herein include both elastomeric (e.g., rubber) components and resilient metallic grounding members that, when assembled together, provide favorable shock mounting as well as robust electrical grounding without the inconvenience of using separate shock mounts, grounding straps, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Ken Dickenson
  • METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS AND OTHER COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20220006002
    Abstract: The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of patterning electrodes, e.g. in the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit; methods of depositing metal on surfaces; and methods of making integrated matching layers for an ultrasound transducer. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Lukacs, Nicholas Christopher Chaggares, Desmond Hirson, Guofeng Pang
  • Dual frequency ultrasound transducer
    Patent number: 11169265
    Abstract: A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency (HF) transducer and a low frequency (LF) transducer that is positioned behind the high frequency transducer. An intermediate layer is positioned between the low frequency transducer and the high frequency transducer to absorb high frequency ultrasound signals. An alignment feature on the low frequency transducer is positioned with respect to a fiducial that is marked at a known position with respect to high frequency transducer elements of the HF transducer to align low frequency transducer elements of the LF transducer with the HF transducer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Guofeng Pang, Oleg Ivanytskyy, Hossein Amini, Robert Kolaja
  • HIGH FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER HAVING AN ULTRASONIC LENS WITH INTEGRAL CENTRAL MATCHING LAYER
    Publication number: 20210338201
    Abstract: High frequency ultrasound transducers configured for use with high frequency ultrasound diagnostic imaging systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasound transducer includes a concave lens having an average thickness in a center portion that that is substantially equal to an odd multiple a ¼-wavelength of the center frequency of the ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas Christopher Chaggares
  • Acoustic wave image generation apparatus and acoustic wave image generation method
    Patent number: 11119199
    Abstract: An acoustic wave image generation apparatus for generating a photoacoustic image and a Doppler image is provided with a setting unit that sets a region of interest in the Doppler image, and a receiving-aperture controlling unit that sets receiving apertures of an acoustic wave detection probe for detecting photoacoustic waves to apertures smaller than all receiving apertures that the acoustic wave detection probe has, on the basis of a size of the region of interest, and for setting positions of the receiving apertures on the basis of a position of the set region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hashimoto, Kaku Irisawa, Yukiya Miyachi
  • Medical instrument including high frequency ultrasound transducer array
    Patent number: 11114603
    Abstract: Disclosed is a medical device that includes a phased array ultrasound transducer. The transducer includes a number of transducer elements that are electrically coupled to corresponding electrical conductors. In one embodiment, the conductors are included in a flex circuit and engage corresponding transducer elements though a conductive surface formed on outwardly extending ribs of a frame that holds the ultrasound array. In one embodiment, the phased array is forward facing in the medical device and has an element pitch of 0.75 lambda or less and more preferably 0.6 lambda or less. In one embodiment, the transducer is rotatable over an angle of +/?90 degrees to provide a 360 degree view of tissue surrounding the distal end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Christopher Chaggares, Desmond Hirson, Oleg Ivanytskyy, Guofeng Pang, Robert J. Kolaja
  • Laser light source for instrument tip visualization
    Patent number: 11096657
    Abstract: A laser light source transmits laser light to a tip of an interventional instrument such as a needle via an optical fiber. The laser light is absorbed at the distal tip of the instrument and generates a photoacoustic signal. The laser light source is configured to receive a trigger signal from an ultrasound machine when a laser pulse is to be produced. The light source signals the ultrasound machine when an optical connector is connected to the laser light source to automatically begin a needle tip (NTV) visualization mode. If the optical connector is removed from the laser light source, the laser light source stops producing laser light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Qinglin Ma, Paul Thurman Dunham, Keith David Williams, Hiroshi Murakami, Wealth Salvador, Carl Fabian, Brian R. Twehues
  • Methods for manufacturing ultrasound transducers and other components
    Patent number: 11094875
    Abstract: The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of patterning electrodes, e.g. in the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit; methods of depositing metal on surfaces; and methods of making integrated matching layers for an ultrasound transducer. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Lukacs, Nicholas Christopher Chaggares, Desmond Hirson, Guofeng Pang
  • Method of manufacturing high frequency ultrasound transducer having an ultrasonic lens with integral central matching layer
    Patent number: 11083433
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing high frequency ultrasound transducers configured for use with high frequency ultrasound diagnostic imaging systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, methods of manufacturing an ultrasound transducer includes providing a concave lens having an average thickness in a center portion that that is substantially equal to an odd multiple of a ¼-wavelength of the center frequency of the ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas Christopher Chaggares
  • Method and apparatus for visualizing a medical instrument under ultrasound guidance
    Patent number: 11064970
    Abstract: Systems and methods of facilitating the viewing of interventional instruments (e.g., needles, catheters, guidewires, vascular filters, biopsy probes) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a portable, handheld or cart-based ultrasound imaging machine is connected to an external laser light source that transmits laser light to a tip of an interventional instrument via one or more optical fibers. The laser light is absorbed at the distal tip of the instrument and generates a photoacoustic signal. The ultrasound imaging machine creates an image by combining data from the received photoacoustic signals with ultrasound echo data to show both tissue in a region of interest and the tip of the interventional instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Qinglin Ma, Kerem Karadayi
  • Method and apparatus for interacting with medical worksheets in a point-of-care browser
    Patent number: 11042696
    Abstract: An ultrasound point-of-care system receives a worksheet from a worksheet server. The worksheet is encoded as HTML that is configured to be rendered by a browser component of system software. One or more predefined JavaScript functions in the HTML provide information that is entered by a user into the worksheet and meta-data about the worksheet. System software on the medical device uses an intermediate component or code insertion to execute the JavaScript functions to retrieve the entered information and the meta-data. The system software stores the information locally and packages the retrieved information and meta-data as a DICOM file for transmission to the worksheet server when a computer communication connection to the worksheet server becomes available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: John D. Higinbotham
  • Method and apparatus for selecting power states in an ultrasound imaging system
    Patent number: 10989798
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a processor that is programmed to operate the system in a normal operating state and two or more lesser power states. The processor lowers the operating power state to a lesser power state upon detecting one or more operating conditions such as no tissue been imaged in a predetermined time limit or that the imaging system or transducer has not been moved in a time limit. Upon awakening from a power off state, the processor implements a lesser power state before operating at the normal operating state to avoid undue power use until the transducer is positioned to image tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC., FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiro Imai, Richard Hippe
  • Ultrasound system for enhanced instrument visualization
    Patent number: 10932749
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a processor programmed to generate an anatomy image and a number of needle frames at different transmit beam angles. The system analyzes the data in the needle frames and selects segments therein that are identified as likely representing an interventional instrument. Data from one or more needle frames are blended with the data for the anatomy image of the tissue to create a composite image of the tissue and the interventional instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Kerem Karadayi
  • Systems and methods of dissipating heat from a handheld medical imaging device
    Patent number: 10918361
    Abstract: Systems and methods of transmitting heat out a medical imaging device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a medical imaging device includes a housing having electronics and a heat sink. The heat sink is positioned near a first end of the housing, a groove that is configured to receive at least a portion of an operator's hand is positioned at a second end of the housing. A heat pipe in the housing extends from the electronics toward the first end of the housing and is configured to transfer heat produced by the electronics toward the heat sink and away from the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Pinch, Carl Fabian, Brent Chauvin
  • Portable ultrasound imaging system with active cooling
    Patent number: 10908270
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a thermally conductive frame and a number of electronic components and a display that are sealed within the frame. The frame further includes a plenum extending through the frame with surfaces that are thermally coupled to the electronic components and the display. An active cooling mechanism, such as one or more fans, moves air through the plenum to remove heat generated by the electronic components and display. The plenum is environmentally sealed so that moisture, dust, air or other contaminants drawn into the plenum do not contact the sealed electronic components and display in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Rahul Gupta
  • Portable ultrasound systems with fine-grained power management associated devices, systems, and methods
    Patent number: 10898167
    Abstract: Portable ultrasound systems and associated devices and methods for managing power in such systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for conserving power in a portable ultrasound system includes disabling one or more first amplifiers and/or at least one or more first analog to digital converters (ADCs) upon initiation of a first pulse repetition interval (PRI). The method further includes, upon initiation of a second PRI, enabling the one or more first amplifiers and/or the one or more of the first ADCs and disabling one or more second amplifiers of and/or one or more second ADCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Todd Willsie
  • Ultrasound device
    Patent number: D912252
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Nally, Craig Chamberlain, Ben Dekock, Tyler Dawson
  • Ultrasound device
    Patent number: D939093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Nally, Craig Chamberlain
  • Ultrasound device with control panel
    Patent number: D940882
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Nally, Craig Chamberlain