Patents Examined by Christopher Cook
  • 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: 9844360
    Abstract: A medical imaging system may include an imaging device; an optical head coupled to the imaging device, the optical head comprising a plurality of optical sensors; and a control unit in communication with the optical head. The control unit may be configured to: receive data from the plurality of optical sensors, determine a subset of optical sensors from the plurality of optical sensors for viewing one or more visible targets based on the received data from the plurality of optical sensors, and instruct the optical head to transmit images from the subset of optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: CLEAR GUIDE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Philipp Jakob Stolka, Pezhman Foroughi, Matthew C. Rendina, Gregory Donald Hager
  • Patent number: 9833144
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for probes, methods of using the probe, methods of making the probe, method of imaging a condition (e.g., pre-cancerous tissue, cancer, or a tumor), methods of planning resection of a brain tumor, methods of imaging a brain tumor, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Moritz F. Kircher, Adam de la Zerda, Jesse Jokerst, Cristina Zavaleta, Sanjiv S. Gambhir
  • 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: 9763745
    Abstract: MRI compatible localization and/or guidance systems for facilitating placement of an interventional therapy and/or device in vivo include: (a) a mount adapted for fixation to a patient; (b) a targeting cannula with a lumen configured to attach to the mount so as to be able to controllably translate in at least three dimensions; and (c) an elongate probe configured to snugly slidably advance and retract in the targeting cannula lumen, the elongate probe comprising at least one of a stimulation or recording electrode. In operation, the targeting cannula can be aligned with a first trajectory and positionally adjusted to provide a desired internal access path to a target location with a corresponding trajectory for the elongate probe. Automated systems for determining an MR scan plane associated with a trajectory and for determining mount adjustments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MRI Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Parag V. Karmarkar, Kimble Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9763642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a property determination apparatus (1) for determining a property of an object (3). Optical sensing data being indicative of an optical property of the object and ultrasound sensing data being indicative of an ultrasound property of the object are generated, and a property determination unit (75) determines a property of the object based on at least one of the optical sensing data and the ultrasound sensing data. Since light and ultrasound have generally different penetration depths and scattering properties with respect to the object, a property of the object can be determined with good quality, even if the quality of one of the optical sensing data and the ultrasound sensing data is reduced by, for example, a relatively small penetration depth, or if one of the optical sensing data and the ultrasound sensing data is less suitable for determining a desired property of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Erik Godefridus Antonius Harks, Rami Nachabe, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Szabolcs Deladi
  • Patent number: 9763584
    Abstract: An optical measurement module is disclosed that includes three or more recessed regions separated from each other by two or more barrier walls, the recessed regions including at least two distal recessed regions. The optical measurement module may also include first and second photo-emitter elements that emit light in different spectrums and first and second photodetector elements. One or more of the second photo-emitter elements may be located in one of the distal recessed regions, and the second photodetector element may be located in one of the other distal recessed regions. The first photodetector element may be located in a recessed region other than the recessed region where the second photodetector element is located, and the one or more photo-emitter elements may be located in one of the recessed regions other than the one where the first photodetector element is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Freschl, Chris H. Sarantos, Peter W. Richards, Anthony Alexander Cacace, Ritika Sahai, Lindsey Michelle Sunden
  • Patent number: 9757046
    Abstract: Light-blocking structures for optical physiological parameter measurement devices or sensors are disclosed. Such optical physiological parameter measurement devices or sensors may include two photodetectors and a photo-emitter, as well as barrier walls that are interposed between the photo-emitter and the photodetectors. The barrier walls may have recesses that intermesh with surface profiles of protrusions that are attached to or part of a window of the optical physiological parameter measurement devices or sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Freschl, Chris H. Sarantos, Peter W. Richards, Anthony Alexander Cacace, Ritika Sahai, Lindsey Michelle Sunden
  • Patent number: 9757087
    Abstract: A surgical instrument navigation system is disclosed that allows a surgeon to invert the three-dimensional perspective of the instrument to match their perspective of the actual instrument. A data processor is operable to generate a three-dimensional representation of a surgical instrument as it would visually appear from either of at least two different perspectives and to overlay the representation of the surgical instrument onto an image data of the patient. The image data and the representations can be displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Simon, Greg Rutz, Monish Rajpal, Gordon Goodchild, Michael Haas
  • Patent number: 9743849
    Abstract: Light-blocking structures for optical physiological parameter measurement devices or sensors are disclosed. Such structures may include barrier walls and protrusions that further include intermeshing surface profiles designed to promote light-blocking capabilities at small scales to offset potential gaps that may occur due to assembly tolerance stack-ups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Freschl, Chris H. Sarantos, Peter W. Richards, Anthony Alexander Cacace, Ritika Sahai, Lindsey Michelle Sunden
  • Patent number: 9693792
    Abstract: An ultrasonic medical treatment device has a probe, a transducer for mechanically vibrating the probe at an ultrasonic frequency, a voltage source for energizing the transducer, and another electrical voltage source for feeding to the probe a high-frequency alternating waveform of limited current and limited voltage to be conducted into a patient through the operative tip of the probe after placement of the operative tip into contact with the patient. The alternating waveform has a current and a voltage so limited as to prevent damage to organic tissues while stimulating nerves to reduce or suppress pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MISONIX, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Theodore A. D. Novak, Ronald R. Manna
  • Patent number: 9675302
    Abstract: A tool dislodgement detection apparatus includes an MPS outputting position and orientation (P&O) readings for determining tool motion. A control generates an alarm based on the tool motion and dislodgement criteria. The criteria includes whether the tool motion meets a condition based on the type of medical procedure or tool, the tool parking position, a patient characteristic (e.g., age, weight, gender) or a physician preference. The criteria includes when the correlation between the tool motion and the cardiac, respiration and patient motion changes abruptly. In a prolapse detection apparatus, guidewire tip P&O readings determine a tip motion vector. The control generates an alarm using the motion vector and predetermined criteria. The criteria include a substantial change in the tip orientation not accompanied by a corresponding position change and a change in the motion vector by about 180° accompanied by a corresponding position change no greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: MediGuide Ltd.
    Inventors: Itay Kariv, Amit Cohen
  • Patent number: 9675312
    Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out an examination on the breast of a patient, includes an analysis head including at least one radiation detection device, configured to receive and detect radiation on a detection plane and at least one X-ray source to emit a corresponding beam of X-rays towards the detection plane. A first frame is provided with a floor support; a second frame supports the analysis head; and a third frame is connected to the first frame so that it can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and which supports the second frame. A movement mechanism moves the third frame from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: I.M.S. Internazionale Medico Scientifica S.r.l.
    Inventors: Bruno Toniolo, Achille Albanese, Paolo Vignoli
  • Patent number: 9671504
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions. A hand-held probe includes a detector configured to generate a low-level electrical signal relating to a radiation source proximate the detector, and a probe wireless link configured to transmit a message containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal. An instrumentation console includes a housing, an integral console wireless link within the housing and configured to receive the message transmitted by the probe wireless link, a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link to convert the message to corresponding electrical display signals, and a visually perceivable display electrically coupled to the receiver to convert the electrical display signals to a visually perceivable display relating to the amount of radiation detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard McFerron
  • Patent number: 9656030
    Abstract: A method including percutaneously positioning a delivery device in a blood vessel; locally introducing a treatment agent from the delivery device into the blood vessel upstream of an infarcted area or distressed area; and following introducing the treatment agent, occluding the blood vessel for a dwell time sufficient to allow the treatment agent to flow into targeted capillaries in or adjacent to the infarcted area. A system comprising a delivery device suitable for percutaneous insertion into a blood vessel of a patient, the delivery device comprising an occluding portion and a delivery cannula having a lumen therethrough; a controller coupled to a proximal portion of the delivery device comprising instruction logic to perform a method including introducing a treatment agent into the delivery cannula; and occluding a blood vessel following a predetermined delay time after introducing the treatment agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: William Earl Webler, Jr., Eugene T. Michal, Jessica Chiu, Charles D. Claude, Syed Faiyaz Ahmed Hossainy
  • Patent number: 9636025
    Abstract: Diffuse optical flow (DOF) sensors can be used to assess deep tissue flow. DOF sensors positioned on a foot can provide fluctuating light intensity data to an analyzer, which can then determine absolute and/or relative blood flow. The determined absolute and/or relative blood flow can be signaled to an operator, for example a surgeon for intra-operative use. DOF sensors may be utilized to assess pedal revascularization, for example to guide interventional procedures and to evaluate their efficacy. A support structure can carry a plurality of DOF sensors, such that when the support structure is placed onto a patient's foot, the DOF sensors are disposed adjacent different locations on the foot. The different locations may correspond to different topographical regions of the foot, for example different pedal angiosomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Kijoon Lee, Jing Dong, Renzhe Bi
  • Patent number: 9629608
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus of embodiments includes an ultrasound probe, a scanning controller, and a display controller. The ultrasound probe is configured to be capable of ultrasound three dimensional scanning by swinging a plurality of transducer elements in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the transducer elements. The scanning controller is configured to control the ultrasound probe to scan a plurality of intersecting cross sections while swinging the transducer elements. The display controller is configured to control such that a plurality of ultrasound images based on ultrasound scanning performed on the cross sections are displayed on a given display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Imamura, Atsushi Sumi, Kuramitsu Nishihara, Naohisa Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9615814
    Abstract: An invention is disclosed for locating a region of interest in the calcaneus. A pair of ultrasound transducers are positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the heel, respectively. The positioning is based on a size of a portion of the body of a subject upon whom the ultrasound assessment of the calcaneus is to be made. In a presently preferred embodiment, the length of the foot from the back to the head of the first metatarsal is used in conjunction with a proportionality constant and an angle, to position the pair of transducers. The positioning so obtained facilitates (i) reproducible measurements and (ii) comparisons of the results obtained in one person with another, because relatively analogous portions of the highly heterogeneous calcanei are assessed in both. In an alternative embodiment, a single transducer is positioned similarly on the heel, operating in pulse-echo mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: CyberLogic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gangming Luo, Jonathan J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 9610006
    Abstract: A tissue electrode assembly includes a membrane configured to form an expandable, conformable body that is deployable in a patient. The assembly further includes a flexible circuit positioned on a surface of the membrane and comprising at least one base substrate layer, at least one insulating layer and at least one planar conducting layer. An electrically-conductive electrode covers at least a portion of the flexible circuit and a portion of the surface of the membrane not covered by the flexible circuit, wherein the electrically-conductive electrode is foldable upon itself with the membrane to a delivery conformation having a diameter suitable for minimally-invasive delivery of the assembly to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SHIFAMED HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Amr Salahieh, Jonah Lepak, Emma Leung, Brian D. Brandt, John P. Claude, Tom Saul
  • Patent number: 9597031
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to measure lymphatic pressure with more safety and ease at lower cost. To achieve this, a lymphatic pressure-measuring system 1 includes: a manchette 11 fitted on a vital observation portion; a measurement unit 13 that measures and outputs pressure of the manchette 11; an infrared camera 21 that detects fluorescence emitted from fluorescent dye previously injected into a lymph vessel in the vital observation portion; and an image processing device 22 that generates and displays an image showing a position of the fluorescent dye in the lymph vessel based on a detection result of the infrared camera 21. The infrared camera 21 repeats the detection while the pressure of the manchette 11 decreases from first pressure to block a lymph flow in the vital observation portion to second pressure at restart of the lymph flow. The measurement unit 13 repeats the measurement during the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: National University Corporation Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
    Inventor: Naoki Unno