Patents Examined by Christopher Cook
  • Patent number: 9568580
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of California
    Inventors: Anders M. Dale, Donald J. Hagler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9532768
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Marteau, Aurelie Roncaglioni, Lionel Wodecki
  • Patent number: 9498109
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushige Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9474463
    Abstract: Methods to obtain three-dimensional models and images for diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Vanguard Specialty Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Werden
  • Patent number: 9357962
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Universiteit Twente
    Inventor: Wiendelt Steenbergen
  • Patent number: 9332960
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GIVEN IMAGING LTD.
    Inventor: Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 9289189
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Rika Tashiro
  • Patent number: 9273992
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Matti Olavi Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 9265589
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Hartmann, Joel S. Hughes, Joseph Moctezuma, Laurent Verard
  • Patent number: 9254112
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik John Tryggestad, Steven Michael Shea, Teboh Roland
  • Patent number: 9149205
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ileana Hancu, Kenneth William Rohling, Luca Marinelli, Eric William Fiveland, Seung-Kyun Lee, Keith J. Park
  • Patent number: 9151812
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Ole Blumhagen, Gerhard Brinker
  • Patent number: 9042968
    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: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: National University Corporation Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
    Inventor: Naoki Unno
  • Patent number: 9042958
    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: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MRI Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Parag V. Karmarkar, Kimble Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9008758
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Cable, Bradley W. Rice, David Nilson
  • Patent number: 9002439
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Kyoto University, Keio University
    Inventors: Kazunori Okada, Hiroshi Suganuma, Tatsuhiko Saito, Masato Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Toshihiro Munemitsu, Eiji Okada
  • Patent number: 8998812
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Morris Ziv-Ari, Alexander Sokulin, Eitan Berg
  • Patent number: 8983575
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Sascha Krueger, Holger Timinger, Joerg Sabczynski, Joern Borgert
  • Patent number: 8965481
    Abstract: Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging methods to obtain three-dimensional models and diagnoses of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Vanguard Specialty Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Werden
  • Patent number: 8965484
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronan Quelever, Laurent Launay, Amy Deubig