Patents Examined by Christopher Cook
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Patent number: 9568580Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are used for identifying fibers based at least in part on magnetic resonance imaging. A fiber tract atlas for a nervous system includes atlas voxels that each represent a different volume element of the nervous system; a first atlas voxel represents a first volume element of the nervous system. The fiber tract atlas also includes information on orientations of a first fiber tract in the first volume element of the nervous system. Magnetic resonance data is acquired from the nervous system of a subject. The magnetic resonance data includes data voxels; a first data voxel relates to the first atlas voxel. A diffusion vector is generated for the first data voxel based at least in part on the acquired magnetic resonance data. The fiber tract atlas is used to find a probability that the first data voxel represents the first fiber tract based at least in part on the generated diffusion vector and the information on the orientations of the first fiber tract in the first volume element.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of CaliforniaInventors: Anders M. Dale, Donald J. Hagler, Jr.
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Patent number: 9532768Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system is provided that includes an image acquisition component, a transmitter operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to transmit a signal therefrom, and a beamformer operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to receive image data therefrom. Also included is a processor configured to assemble images from the acquired image data and a display configured to display the images. The image acquisition component includes a multi-headed probe that has a plurality of transducers configured to permit a change of active transducers during an imaging session without a change of the image acquisition component.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jean-Michel Marteau, Aurelie Roncaglioni, Lionel Wodecki
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Patent number: 9498109Abstract: Provided is a fluorescence endoscope device that includes a light source; an image generating portion that captures an image of fluorescence generated at a subject due to irradiation with excitation light to obtain a fluorescence image and that captures an image of return light returning from the subject due to irradiation with white light to obtain a white-light image; a dividing portion that divides the fluorescence image by the white-light image to generate a divided fluorescence image; a coordinate extracting portion that extracts a second region of the divided fluorescence image having a gradation value higher than a second threshold; a fluorescence-image correcting portion that extracts a first region having a gradation value higher than a first threshold in the fluorescence image and generates a corrected fluorescence image in which an overlap region that overlaps the second region is extracted; and a monitor that displays the corrected fluorescence image.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Yasushige Ishihara
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Patent number: 9474463Abstract: Methods to obtain three-dimensional models and images for diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Vanguard Specialty Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Scott A. Werden
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Patent number: 9357962Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device, suitable for the measurement of quantitative photon absorption coefficient in tissue, wherein the device comprises a first light source, suitable for generating photons, a light measurement element suitable for measuring at least one of: the intensity, the frequency, the frequency deviations and phase shift of the light to be measured, an ultrasound source, suitable for the generation of a defined sound wave pattern in a defined volume element within the tissue, wherein the ultrasound source is suitable for labelling the light, originating from the first light source or a second light source that enters the defined volume element within the tissue, and an ultrasound measurement element, suitable for measuring ultrasound, originating from the defined volume element within the tissue and generated by the light of the first light source that enters the defined volume element within the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Universiteit TwenteInventor: Wiendelt Steenbergen
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Patent number: 9332960Abstract: A system and method for determining location and orientation of an in-vivo device, with respect to an external system in which the device is located include a frame with external magnets attached thereon. An in-vivo device is inserted into the patient's body, which is placed within the system, and the external magnets apply magnetic forces on the in-vivo device. A radio beacon transmitter is attached to the frame for transmitting a radio pulse. The in-vivo device includes an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting an ultrasonic signal, which is triggered by the radio pulse. At least three transponders are placed on the patient's body, each transponder sending a first acoustic signal triggered by the radio pulse, and each sending a second acoustic signal triggered by the device's ultrasonic signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: GIVEN IMAGING LTD.Inventor: Gavriel J. Iddan
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Patent number: 9289189Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a monitor displaying an ultrasound image, an operating unit receiving an operating instruction from an operator and a control unit controlling a diagnostic apparatus body. The control unit causes measurement calipers each having a measurement line extending linearly in a vertical direction and a gate portion including an upper gate line and a lower gate line which are disposed parallel to each other on the measurement line to be displayed in a superimposed manner on the ultrasound image displayed on the monitor based on the operating instruction from the operating unit, and measurement is sequentially performed at more than one measurement site using the gate portion of each of the measurement calipers which is capable of rotation and change of the distance between the upper gate line and the lower gate line.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Rika Tashiro
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Patent number: 9273992Abstract: A radiation force balance calibrator (100) for calibrating a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer (106), the radiation force balance calibrator comprising: a balance frame (130); a force sensor (138) for measuring force, wherein the force sensor is attached to the balance frame; a balance (124) with first (132) and second ends (134), wherein the first end is attached to a pivot (128) for enabling the balance to pivot relative to the balance frame, wherein the second end is adapted for exerting force onto the force sensor; an oil target phantom (116) connected to the balance for absorbing ultrasound radiation (112, 114) from the high intensity focused ultrasound transducer, wherein the absorption of ultrasonic radiation causes a reduction in the force exerted by the balance on the force sensor; and wherein the radiation force balance calibrator is constructed of non-magnetic materials.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventor: Matti Olavi Lindstrom
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Patent number: 9265589Abstract: A system for tracking a navigated instrument. The system can include a first elongated instrument and a second elongated instrument. The first elongated instrument can have a first proximal end and a first distal end. The first elongated instrument can be adapted to be positioned relative to an anatomy. The second elongated instrument can move adjacent to the first elongated instrument. The second elongated instrument can have a second proximal end and a second distal end. The system can also include at least one tracking device coupled to the second elongated instrument. When the second elongated instrument is in a first position, the at least one tracking device tracks the first distal end of the first elongated instrument, and when the second elongated instrument is in a second position, the at least one tracking device tracks the second distal end of the second elongated instrument.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Hartmann, Joel S. Hughes, Joseph Moctezuma, Laurent Verard
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Patent number: 9254112Abstract: A method of dynamic imaging and resolving respiratory motion includes acquiring volume data for a volume over a plurality of respiratory cycles, acquiring respiratory data representative of respiration over the plurality of respiratory cycles, dividing each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles into a set of respiratory intervals based on the respiratory data, and displaying a respective composite three-dimensional image of the volume for each respiratory interval based on the volume data acquired during the respiratory interval from each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS CORPORATIONInventors: Erik John Tryggestad, Steven Michael Shea, Teboh Roland
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Patent number: 9149205Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a receive coil assembly for use in magnetic resonance imaging of breast tissue. In certain embodiments the assembly comprises separable parts: a configurable mechanical support and a flexible receive coil array. The adjustability and separability of the receive coil array relative to the mechanical support allows the receive coil array to substantially conform to the breasts of the patient during imaging.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ileana Hancu, Kenneth William Rohling, Luca Marinelli, Eric William Fiveland, Seung-Kyun Lee, Keith J. Park
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Patent number: 9151812Abstract: In a method to operate an image-generating medical modality in order to avoid harm to a patient caused by an electromagnetic field, an adjustment process is implemented in which the electromagnetic field is radiated by the modality and preliminary image data are acquired using the electromagnetic field; and a clearance between the patient and a wall of the modality is determined from the image. The determined clearance forms the basis of a check process to determine an adaptation of the electromagnetic field for a diagnostic examination of the patient that follows. During the diagnostic examination, that also includes radiation of the electromagnetic field, movement monitoring of the patient takes place and the adjustment process is restarted as soon as a movement of the patient is registered.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Gerhard Brinker
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Patent number: 9042968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: National University Corporation Hamamatsu University School of MedicineInventor: Naoki Unno
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Patent number: 9042958Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: MRI Interventions, Inc.Inventors: Parag V. Karmarkar, Kimble Jenkins
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Patent number: 9008758Abstract: The invention described herein provides systems and methods for multi-modal imaging with light and a second form of imaging. Light imaging involves the capture of low intensity light from a light-emitting object. A camera obtains a two-dimensional spatial distribution of the light emitted from the surface of the subject. Software operated by a computer in communication with the camera may then convert two-dimensional spatial distribution data from one or more images into a three-dimensional spatial representation. The second imaging mode may include any imaging technique that compliments light imaging. Examples include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer topography (CT). An object handling system moves the object to be imaged between the light imaging system and the second imaging system, and is configured to interface with each system.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Xenogen CorporationInventors: Michael D. Cable, Bradley W. Rice, David Nilson
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Patent number: 9002439Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood vessel wall analyzing apparatus provided with a structure enabling accurate measurement of plaque components in a blood vessel wall in a state that reduces the burden on a patient. In the blood vessel wall analyzing apparatus (1), measurement light is illuminated onto a measured portion within a blood vessel such as a carotid artery (C) from a light illuminating unit (30) provided outside the blood vessel, while light from the measured portion is detected in a light receiving unit (40) provided outside the blood vessel. Thus, since the status of the blood vessel wall can be analyzed without inserting an apparatus involved in measurement into the blood vessel, the burden on the patient is reduced during measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Kyoto University, Keio UniversityInventors: Kazunori Okada, Hiroshi Suganuma, Tatsuhiko Saito, Masato Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Toshihiro Munemitsu, Eiji Okada
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Patent number: 8998812Abstract: A method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring ultrasound data with a plurality of transducer elements. The ultrasound data includes a plurality of signals. The method includes detecting an electromagnetic noise signal during the process of acquiring the ultrasound data. The method also includes modifying the plurality of signals based on the electromagnetic noise signal to generate a plurality of noise-cancelled signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Morris Ziv-Ari, Alexander Sokulin, Eitan Berg
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Patent number: 8983575Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the determination of the position of a catheter in a vascular system (8). In this, the measured positions (r1, r2) of two magnetic localizers at the tip of a catheter are displaced by correction vectors (k1, k2) while optimizing a quality dimension. The quality dimension includes a component taking account both of the deviation of the measured positions (r1, r2) from the vascular layout and of the deviation of the associated orientation (r2?r1) from the orientation of the vascular layout according to a vascular map. In addition, the quality dimension may include components which evaluate the measured shape of the catheter compared to the vascular map. An additional correction step can further ensure that the corrected positions (r1?, r2?) correspond to the preset fixed distance (d) of the localizers (4, 5).Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Sascha Krueger, Holger Timinger, Joerg Sabczynski, Joern Borgert
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Patent number: 8965484Abstract: A method of displaying image data for a tissue of an organ includes acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) projection dataset using a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging system, performing a segmentation of the 3D projection dataset that includes a plurality of voxels, performing a perfusion viability cluster analysis to identify myocardium voxels, grouping the myocardium voxels into viable clusters and non-viable clusters based on a density and a location of the myocardium voxels, and generating an image of the myocardium and a coronary tree using the viable clusters and the non-viable clusters. An imaging system and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronan Quelever, Laurent Launay, Amy Deubig
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Patent number: 8965481Abstract: Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging methods to obtain three-dimensional models and diagnoses of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Vanguard Specialty Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Scott A. Werden