Patents Assigned to Maui Imaging, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12204023
    Abstract: Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Henry A. Davis, David M. Smith, David J. Specht, Viet Nam Le, Lang J. McHardy, Joseph James Digiovanni, II, Nathan W. Osborn, Bruce R. Ritzi
  • Patent number: 12190627
    Abstract: Ping-based imaging systems may be used for tracking motion of hard or soft objects within an imaged medium. Motion detection and motion tracking may be performed by defining fingerprint points and tracking the position of each fingerprint point based on the echoes of multiple transmitted pings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Henry A. Davis, Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 12186133
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the quality of ultrasound images made up of a combination of multiple sub-images include giving more weight to sub-image information that is more likely to improve a combined image quality. Weighting factor information may be determined from the geometry (e.g., angle or path length) of a location of one or more specific transducer elements relative to a specific point within a region of interest or a region of an image. In some embodiments, any given pixel (or other discrete region of an image) may be formed by combining received echo data in a manner that gives more weight to data that is likely to improve image quality, and/or discounting or ignoring data that is likely to detract from image quality (e.g., by introducing noise or by increasing point spread).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 12171621
    Abstract: The quality of ping-based ultrasound imaging is dependent on the accuracy of information describing the precise acoustic position of transmitting and receiving transducer elements. Improving the quality of transducer element position data can substantially improve the quality of ping-based ultrasound images, particularly those obtained using a multiple aperture ultrasound imaging probe, i.e., a probe with a total aperture greater than any anticipated maximum coherent aperture width. Various systems and methods for calibrating element position data for a probe are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Artem Belevich, Josef R. Call, Bruce R. Ritzi, Nathan W. Osborn
  • Patent number: 12167209
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Kenneth D. Brewer, Viet Nam Le, Matthew Ouellette, Mathias Blake
  • Patent number: 12048587
    Abstract: Sparse arrays of transducer elements may be beneficial in providing ultrasound transducer probes with a wide total aperture while containing a manageable number of transducer elements. Sparse arrays made with bulk piezoelectric materials or with arrays of micro-elements can be effectively with ping-based multiple aperture ultrasound imaging techniques to perform real-time volumetric imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry A. Davis, Donald F. Specht, Josef R. Call, Sharon L. Adam, David M. Smith, Erik Gokbora
  • Patent number: 11998395
    Abstract: A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 11944500
    Abstract: Changes in tissue stiffness have long been associated with disease. Systems and methods for determining the stiffness of tissues using ultrasonography may include a device for inducing a propagating shear wave in tissue and tracking the speed of propagation, which is directly related to tissue stiffness and density. The speed of a propagating shear wave may be detected by imaging a tissue at a high frame rate and detecting the propagating wave as a perturbance in successive image frames relative to a baseline image of the tissue in an undisturbed state. In some embodiments, sufficiently high frame rates may be achieved by using a ping-based ultrasound imaging technique in which unfocused omni-directional pings are transmitted (in an imaging plane or in a hemisphere) into a region of interest. Receiving echoes of the omnidirectional pings with multiple receive apertures allows for substantially improved lateral resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 11727712
    Abstract: Ping-based imaging systems may be used for tracking motion of hard or soft objects within an imaged medium. Motion detection and motion tracking may be performed by defining fingerprint points and tracking the position of each fingerprint point based on the echoes of multiple transmitted pings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Henry A. Davis, Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 11723626
    Abstract: A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e., concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Smith, Donald F. Specht, Linda V. Cabrera, Kenneth D. Brewer, David J. Specht
  • Patent number: 11709265
    Abstract: Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Henry A. Davis, David M. Smith, David J. Specht, Viet Nam Le, Lang J. McHardy, Joseph James Digiovanni, II, Nathan W. Osborn, Bruce R. Ritzi
  • Patent number: 11678861
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef R. Call, Kenneth D. Brewer, Viet Nam Le, Matthew Ouellette, Mathias Blake
  • Patent number: 11464492
    Abstract: A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8684936
    Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from received echoes is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 8602993
    Abstract: The benefits of a multi-aperture ultrasound probe can be achieved with add-on devices. Synchronization and correlation of echoes from multiple transducer elements located in different arrays is essential to the successful processing of multiple aperture imaging. The algorithms disclosed here teach methods to successfully process these signals when the transmission source is coming from another ultrasound system and synchronize the add-on system to the other ultrasound system. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by individual transducer elements. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging and are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8473239
    Abstract: Increasing the effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe by including more than one probe head and using the elements of all of the probes to render an image can greatly improve the lateral resolution of the generated image. In order to render an image, the relative positions of all of the elements must be known precisely. A calibration fixture is described in which the probe assembly to be calibrated is placed above a test block and transmits ultrasonic pulses through the test block to an ultrasonic sensor. As the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted though some or all of the elements in the probe to be tested, the differential transit times of arrival of the waveform are measured precisely. From these measurements the relative positions of the probe elements can be computed and the probe can be aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Specht, Kenneth D. Brewer, David M. Smith, Sharon L. Adam, John P. Lunsford
  • Patent number: 8277383
    Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. Specular reflections are attenuated by using even a single omnidirectional receiver displaced from the insonifying probe. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 8105239
    Abstract: A non-invasive screening technique for visualizing coronary arteries which overcomes the problems of visualizing the curved arteries by projecting the three dimensional volume of the arteries onto a two dimensional screen. Blood filled areas such as the coronary arteries and veins, are highlighted to contrast with other nearby tissues using non-linear classification and segmentation techniques. Data is gathered as a sequence of 2D slices stored as a 3D volume. Software interpolates voxels intermediate to the slices. Wiener filtering or LMS spatial filtering can be implemented on each 2D scan to improve lateral resolution and reduce noise prior to the use of the scan data with the classification and segmentation algorithms. A traditional handheld ultrasound probe is employed to enable the technician to locate the area of interest, but a gyroscopic stabilizer is added to minimize unwanted variation on two axes of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht
  • Publication number: 20110306885
    Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. Specular reflections are attenuated by using even a single omnidirectional receiver displaced from the insonifying probe. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 8007439
    Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from the echoes received by the single omnidirectional transducer is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. Specular reflections are attenuated by using even a single omnidirectional receiver displaced from the insonifying probe. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Maui Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht