Patents Examined by Colin T Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11850090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for guided lung coverage and automated detection using ultrasound devices are disclosed. The method for guided coverage and automated detection of pathologies of a subject includes positioning an ultrasound probe on a region of the subject body to be imaged. The method includes capturing a video of the subject and processing the video to generate a torso image of the subject and identify location of the ultrasound probe on the subject body. The method includes registering the video to an anatomical atlas to generate a mask of the region of the subject body comprising a plurality of sub-regions of the subject body to be imaged and superimposing the mask over the torso image. The method further includes displaying an indicator corresponding to a location of the each of the plurality of the sub-regions on the torso image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Vikram Melapudi, Chandan Kumar Mallappa Aladahalli, Krishna Seetharam Shriram
  • Patent number: 11850022
    Abstract: A method includes determining skin characteristics in a region of a patient. An in-treatment optical scan is performed on a region of a patient, wherein the in-treatment optical scan comprises a near infrared (NIR) energy source. A plurality of detected signals is detected from the optical scan. The skin characteristics are filtered out from the plurality of detected signals. Skeletal anatomy positioning associated with the region is determined from the plurality of signals that is filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John Adler, Jr., Agam Sharda
  • Patent number: 11844647
    Abstract: For intraluminal ultrasound probes, two long-thin arrays (e.g., 1D arrays) are provided in the intraluminal ultrasound probe for bi-plane imaging. The arrays are rotatable relative to each other so that during insertion the arrays align to be long and thin, allowing the shaft of the probe to be narrow. For bi-plane imaging after insertion, one array is rotated relative to the other array, defining two non-parallel imaging planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Rickard C. Loftman, William R. Dreschel
  • Patent number: 11844649
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound transducer including plural piezoelectric elements; an acoustic lens layer configured to radiate the ultrasound emitted from the plural piezoelectric elements to outside; a back layer that faces the acoustic lens layer with the ultrasound transducer interposed between the back layer and the acoustic lens layer; and a wiring member having at least a part that is arranged at a first position between the acoustic lens layer and the ultrasound transducer or at a second position that faces the ultrasound transducer with the back layer interposed between the second position and the ultrasound transducer. The wiring member includes: a resin layer having electrically insulating; and an electrically conducting layer that is provided on the resin layer and includes plural signal wirings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11839511
    Abstract: An ultrasound image tracking completeness system includes an ultrasound imaging probe that acquires images during an examination, an imaging probe sensor coupled to the ultrasound imaging probe and that tracks a position and an orientation of the ultrasound imaging probe, and a display to display images acquired by the ultrasound imaging probe. The system also includes a processor programmed to calculate a probe speed threshold at which the ultrasound imaging probe may be moved while acquiring images during the examination, track the position and orientation of the ultrasound imaging probe during the examination by monitoring the imaging probe sensor, determine a movement speed of the ultrasound imaging probe during the examination, and if the movement speed of the ultrasound imaging probe exceeds the probe speed threshold, issue a warning to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Metritrack, Inc.
    Inventors: Calin Caluser, Guang Yang
  • Patent number: 11839513
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe includes a housing configured for handheld operation by a user, a transducer array coupled to the housing and configured to obtain ultrasound data, and a cable coupled to the housing. The cable includes a conduit and a plurality of electrical conductors in communication with the transducer array. The ultrasound probe also includes an elastomeric insert disposed within the housing. The elastomeric insert includes a compressed state and an uncompressed state. The elastomeric insert is in contact with the plurality of electrical conductors such that application of a force on the cable causes the plurality of electrical conductors to compress the elastomeric insert into the compressed state and such that, upon cessation of the force on the cable, the elastomeric insert moves the plurality of electrical conductors while returning to the uncompressed state. Associated methods, devices, and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Dino Francesco Cuscuna
  • Patent number: 11839447
    Abstract: A wearable, open and adjustable MRI head coil system having an assembly of support members, panels, or portions defining one or more access openings. The support members, panels, or portions can support, house, or otherwise include radiofrequency receiver antennae or imaging coils such that the assembly is positionable or wearable by a patient for MRI scanning. The radiofrequency receiver antennae or imaging coils, and other devices can be simultaneously in contact with a patient's head, thereby enabling use during diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, or other interventional procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MR Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J Rheineck, Mark Jensen, Michael Lancial, Grant Thompson, Leon Ricord, Juan Martinez, Robert Bushey, Brian Fabian, Khai Tran, Lawrence Tanenbaum
  • Patent number: 11832994
    Abstract: An ultrasound control unit (10) is for coupling with an ultrasound transducer unit (12). The control unit is adapted to control a drive configuration or setting of the transducers of the transducer unit, each drive setting having a known power consumption level associated with it. The control unit includes a control module (20) adapted to adjust the drive setting from a first setting to a second setting, the second having a lower associated power consumption that the first. The second setting is tested by an analysis module (16), the analysis module adapted to determine a measure of reliability of ultrasound data acquired by the transducer unit, for the purpose of deriving at least one physiological parameter, when configured in the second setting. The second setting is only used if its determined reliability passes a pre-defined reliability condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Thomas Sutton, Alexander Groth, Frank Michael Weber, Shyam Bharat, Peter Bingley, Balasundar Iyyavu Raju
  • Patent number: 11832896
    Abstract: An interventional device includes a sensor interconnection region (101) for making electrical contact to a sensor (102) disposed on the interventional device. The interventional device includes an electrically conductive elongate shaft, a sensor strip (104), electrical conductors (105, 106), and an electrical shield layer (109). The electrical conductors (105, 106) extend along the sensor strip between a sensor region (111) and a window (112) within which the electrical conductors (105, 106) are exposed. The sensor strip (104) is wrapped around the elongate shaft (103) in a spiral such that the electrical conductors (105, 106) extend along the longitudinal axis (A-A?) within the window (112), and such that an electrical shield contact portion (109?) adjacent the window (112), the window (112), and an exposed portion of the electrically conductive elongate shaft (103?) beyond the wrapped sensor strip provide the sensor interconnection region (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Willem-Jan Arend De Wijs, Johannes Wilhelmus Weekamp, Gerardus Franciscus Cornelis Maria Lijten, Egbertus Reinier Jacobs
  • Patent number: 11826198
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions; an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers; and a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kang-sik Kim, Bae-hyeong Kim, Jong-keun Song
  • Patent number: 11819360
    Abstract: An ultrasound system includes an ultrasound device configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The ultrasound device includes a rotatable, flexible elongate drive cable comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, a first ultrasound element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to obtain imaging data of the body lumen while rotating, and a second ultrasound element disposed at the distal portion of the drive cable and configured to apply an ultrasound therapy to the body lumen while rotating. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeremy Stigall, Princeton Saroha, Robert Emmett Kearney
  • Patent number: 11813115
    Abstract: Provided are a portable ultrasound apparatus, a portable ultrasound system, and an ultrasound diagnosis method performed by using the portable ultrasound apparatus. The portable ultrasound apparatus includes at least two probes having different specifications; a first display unit for displaying an ultrasound image; and a second display unit for displaying a control screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gil-ju Jin, Mi-jeoung Ahn, Hyoung-jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11813096
    Abstract: An adjustable support for a gantry (3) for a radiation therapy apparatus or for a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the support comprises: abase (5), a mounting member (1), and an attachment element (7); wherein a lower part of the mounting member (1) engages with the base (5); wherein the attachment element (7) engages with an upper part of the mounting member (1); and wherein the position of the upper part of the mounting member (1), relative to the base (5) is adjustable by the attachment element (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Elekta Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Westwood
  • Patent number: 11806176
    Abstract: An N-M tomography system comprising: a carrier for the subject of an examination procedure; a plurality of detector heads; a carrier for the detector heads; and a detector positioning arrangement operable to position the detector heads during performance of a scan without interference or collision between adjacent detector heads to establish a variable bore size and configuration for the examination. Additionally, collimated detectors providing variable spatial resolution for SPECT imaging and which can also be used for PET imaging, whereby one set of detectors can be selectably used for either modality, or for both simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Limited
    Inventors: Nathaniel Roth, Yoel Zilberstien, Shlomo Ben-Haim, Benny Rousso
  • Patent number: 11806088
    Abstract: A method includes providing medical images of a subject for selecting a target image from thereamong, building a 3D image model based on the medical images and the target image with a surgical target site assigned, performing image registration to superimpose the 3D image model on a real-time image of the subject so as to result in a combined image, determining a virtual entry site located on the combined image, connecting the surgical target site and the virtual entry site with a straight line, generating a guiding path extending from the virtual entry site, in a direction away from the surgical target site and along the straight line, and displaying the guiding path for guiding a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITY, CHANG GUNG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, KEELUNG
    Inventors: Shin-Yan Chiou, Pin-Yuan Chen, Hao-Li Liu, Kuo-Chen Wei
  • Patent number: 11801037
    Abstract: An ultrasound system 1 includes an ultrasound probe 2 and an image display device 3. The ultrasound probe 2 includes a transducer array 11 including a plurality of transducers, a transmitting and receiving unit 14 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using an aperture transducer group consisting of some transducers to generate a sound ray signal, and an image information data generation unit 19 that generates image information data from the sound ray signal. The image display device 3 includes a display unit 34. One of the ultrasound probe 2 and the image display device 3 includes a display image region determination unit 22 that determines a display image region obtained by excluding a shallow image region from an ultrasound image on the basis of the width of all of the transducers, the width of the aperture transducer group, and a steering angle range of a scanning line. The display unit 34 displays the ultrasound image based on the image information data only in the display image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiya Miyachi
  • Patent number: 11801020
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, image generating circuitry, and processing circuitry. The X-ray tube generates an X-ray. The X-ray detector is positioned in a manner facing the X-ray tube, and detects the X-ray. The image generating circuitry generates an X-ray image one after another, based on an output of the X-ray detector. The processing circuitry identifies an inserted object inside a subject in the X-ray image, by performing an image recognition process to the X-ray image. The processing circuitry sets the area to be searched for a marker, based on the inserted object identified in the X-ray image. The processing circuitry detects the marker in the X-ray image, by searching the area to be searched for the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumimasa Shige, Takuya Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11793493
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be applied to an ultrasound inspection of a living body part that moves with a movement of a subject in a living body inside the subject. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound image generation section that generates an ultrasound image based on a reception signal acquired from ultrasound probe which transmits and receives an ultrasound; an image analysis section that detects a movement of the subject by performing an image analysis of time-series camera images acquired from a camera which images the movement of the subject; and a display image generation section that generates a display image including the ultrasound image, and changes a display content or display mode of the display image in conjunction with the movement of the subject detected by the image analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 11796658
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 11782108
    Abstract: An adjustable head coil system and methods for enhancing and/or optimizing magnetic resonance imaging, involving a housing, the housing having at least one portion, the at least one portion having a lower portion, an upper portion, and opposing side portions, each at least one portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, each at least one portion configured to accommodate at least one radio-frequency coil, and the upper and lower portions each optionally configured to overlap and engage the opposing side portions for facilitating decoupling the at least one radio-frequency coil, and a tongue portion optionally in movable relation to any other portion for facilitating adjustability, engageable with the lower portion, and fixably couple-able with a transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: William Wai-Leung Lau, Alexander Gyles Panther, Gilbert Thevathasan, Mark Tullio Morreale