Patents Examined by Elmer M Chao
  • Patent number: 10564242
    Abstract: An MR apparatus creating a timeline suitable for data acquisition in several temporal phases. The MR apparatus including a method for creating a timeline TL2 having a scan time of TS1 based on a reference timeline TL0 having a scan time of TS. The method setting start points in time of scans SC1, SC3 and SC4 in the timeline TL2 to the same points in time as those in the reference timeline TL0, respectively. The method also setting the start point in time of the scan SC2 in the timeline TL2 to a sum of the scan time TS1 and a delay time TD1 with respect to the scan SC1 in the timeline TL2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventors: Miho Nagasawa, Kenji Suzuki, Yoshihiro Tomoda, Masanori Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10557904
    Abstract: A medical apparatus (300, 400, 500) includes a magnetic resonance imaging system (302) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (342) from an imaging zone (308); a processor (330) for controlling the medical apparatus; a memory (336) storing machine executable instructions (350, 352, 354, 356). Execution of the instructions causes the processor to: acquire (100, 200) the magnetic resonance data using a pulse sequence (340) which specifies an echo time greater than 400 ?s; reconstruct (102, 202) a magnetic resonance image using the magnetic resonance data; generate (104, 204) a thresholded image (346) by thresholding the magnetic resonance image to emphasize bone structures and suppressing tissue structures in the magnetic resonance image; and generate (106, 206) a bone-enhanced image by applying a background removal algorithm to the thresholded image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Christian Stehning, Nicole Schadewaldt, Michael Gunter Helle, Steffen Renisch, Heinrich Schulz
  • Patent number: 10555674
    Abstract: A confocal microscope having a scanning head in the form of a hand piece (102) which may be placed at selected locations on the body of a patient. A laser beam is scanned in orthogonal (horizontal and vertical) directions by scanners (128, 130) which drive scan mirrors (128a, 130a), which are closely adjacent to each other. The optics include an objective lens (138) and a single telescope lens (132, 134). The telescope provides sufficient magnification to overfill the entrance pupil of the objective lens (138) over the entire scan angle produced by the scan mirrors (128a, 130a). The telescope images the entrance pupil of the objective in the beam path between the mirrors of the scanners. Scanner (128) represents a pulse driven resonant scanner (7). The pulse duration is controlled to vary the scan angle and obtain dynamic, electronic image zooming without changing the positional relationship of the telescope lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: CALIBER IMAGING & DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Fox, Scott R. Grodevant, Christopher C. Distasio
  • Patent number: 10478075
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining at least one bodily function measurement are presented. A mobile device includes an outer body sized to be portable for user, a processor contained within the outer body, and a plurality of sensors physically coupled to the outer body. The sensors are configured to obtain a first measurement indicative of blood volume and a second measurement indicative of heart electrical activity in response to a user action. A blood pressure measurement is determined based on the first measurement and the second measurement. The sensors also include electrodes where a portion of a user's body positioned between the electrodes completes a circuit and a measurement to provide at least one measure of impedance associated with the user's body. A hydration level measurement is determined based on the measure of impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Russel Allyn Martin, Leonid Sheynblat, Douglas Wayne Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10470694
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for determining tissue oxygenation. An electronic device obtains a data set including a plurality of images of a tissue of interest, each resolved at a different spectral band. Spectral analysis is performed, upon image registration, at a plurality of points in a two-dimensional area of the images of the tissue. The spectral analysis including determining approximate values of oxyhemoglobin levels and deoxyhemoglobin levels at each respective point in the plurality of points. The predetermined set of eight to twelve spectral bands includes spectral bands that provide improved methods for measuring tissue oxygenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hypermed Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Darty, Dmitry Yudovsky
  • Patent number: 10463346
    Abstract: Provided is a non-invasive system and method for determining a target glycogen score value for a target muscle and potentially at least one indicator muscle. The method includes receiving an ultrasound scan of a target muscle; evaluating at least a portion of the ultrasound scan to determine glycogen store value within the target muscle; recording the determined glycogen store value for the muscle as an element of a glycogen value data set for the muscle; evaluating the glycogen value data set to determine a value range; and in response to the range being at least above a pre-determined threshold, establishing a target score for the muscle as based on an upper portion of the value range. The method may be repeated to identify ranges for a plurality of muscles, the muscle with the greatest range being identified as an indicator muscle. An associated system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MuscleSound, Inc.
    Inventors: John C Hill, Pierre Sarnow, Thomas M. Moretto, Jr., Sean M McNamara
  • Patent number: 10441291
    Abstract: A catheter devices/systems and methods therefrom are described herein for treating acute kidney injury, especially the contrast-induced acute kidney injury wherein the devices may prevent the contrast dyes from entering into kidney and/or facilitate blood flow of kidney by said catheter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: RenalPro Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Char-Lin Koo, Tsung-Chun Lee, Wen-Pin Shih
  • Patent number: 10433795
    Abstract: Disclosed are a radiation imaging system, an image processing device, a radiation imaging method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having an image processing program recorded thereon which facilitate the confirmation of a positional relationship between an object of interest and a biopsy needle. In the system using a radiation imaging device as a mammography device, when performing a biopsy of a breast of a subject, the positional relationship is confirmed using a radiation image (projection image) obtained through tomosynthesis imaging. A control unit reconstructs the projection image to generate a tomographic image in a state where the needle is inserted into the breast and generates a reprojection image at a predetermined angle from the tomographic image. The control unit extracts an image of the needle from the projection image, synthesizes the extracted image of the needle into the projection image while aligning, and displays the projection image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10413214
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a breath holdable time of a subject and adjust a parameter value of an imaging parameter included in imaging condition for imaging of the subject, according to the breath holdable time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Furudate, Sayo Syukuri
  • Patent number: 10390837
    Abstract: A catheter devices/systems and methods therefrom are described herein for treating acute kidney injury, especially the contrast-induced acute kidney injury wherein the devices may prevent the contrast dyes from entering into kidney and/or facilitate blood flow of kidney by said catheter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: RenalPro Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Char-Lin Koo, Tsung-Chun Lee, Wen-Pin Shih
  • Patent number: 10390877
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for treating back pain associated with a vertebral body of a patient. The system may include an external energy source configured to be positioned at a location external to the body of the patient, a linear configured to drive translation of the external source in one or more axes, a computer coupled to the external source and linear drive and programming executable on said computer for determining a target treatment site within or near the vertebral body based on acquired imaging data, positioning a focal point of the external energy source to substantially coincide with the target treatment site, and delivering a treatment dose of therapeutic energy at said target treatment site, wherein the treatment dose is configured to modulate a nerve within or near the vertebral body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H Heggeness, Richard C Pellegrino, Rex Peters
  • Patent number: 10383596
    Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound probe is disclosed, incorporating features for utilizing an advanced transducer technology on a rotating transducer shaft. In particular, the probe accommodates the transmission of the multitude of signals across the boundary between the rotary and stationary components of the probe required to support an advanced transducer technology. These advanced transducer technologies offer the potential for increased bandwidth, improved beam profiles, better signal to noise ratio, reduced manufacturing costs, advanced tissue characterization algorithms, and other desirable features. Furthermore, the inclusion of electronic components on the spinning side of the probe can be highly advantageous in terms of preserving maximum signal to noise ratio and signal fidelity, along with other performance benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul Douglas Corl
  • Patent number: 10349889
    Abstract: A portable biometric wrist device having an optical sensor and including at least one light source and at least one light detector installed onto a circuit board, a casing having at least one aperture for said at least one light source and at least one aperture for said at least one light detector, wherein each of said at least one light source and at least one light detector are optically isolated from each other inside said casing with a sealing plate between said casing and said circuit board, said sealing plate having at least one aperture for said at least one light source and at least one aperture for at said least one light detector. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing said portable biometric wrist device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PULSEON OY
    Inventor: Jari Nousiainen
  • Patent number: 10307183
    Abstract: A surgical access assembly and method of use is disclosed. The surgical access assembly comprises an outer sheath and an obturator. The outer sheath and obturator are configured to be delivered to an area of interest within the brain. Either the outer sheath or the obturator may be configured to operate with a navigational system to track the location of either device within the brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Nico Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Mark, Amin Kassam
  • Patent number: 10300310
    Abstract: Described herein is an implantable device having a sensor configured to detect an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, strain, or a pressure; and an ultrasonic transducer with a length of about 5 mm or less in the longest dimension, configured to receive current modulated based on the analyte amount, the pH, the temperature, or the pressure detected by the sensor, and emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the received current. The implantable device can be implanted in a subject, such as an animal or a plant. Also described herein are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also described are methods of detecting an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, a strain, or a pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michel M. Maharbiz, Jose M. Carmena, Mekhail Anwar, Burak A. Ozilgen, Dongjin Seo, Federica Fava
  • Patent number: 10300309
    Abstract: Described herein is an implantable device having a sensor configured to detect an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, strain, or a pressure; and an ultrasonic transducer with a length of about 5 mm or less in the longest dimension, configured to receive current modulated based on the analyte amount, the pH, the temperature, or the pressure detected by the sensor, and emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the received current. The implantable device can be implanted in a subject, such as an animal or a plant. Also described herein are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also described are methods of detecting an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, a strain, or a pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michel M. Maharbiz, Jose M. Carmena, Mekhail Anwar, Burak A. Ozilgen, Dongjin Seo, Federica Fava
  • Patent number: 10292676
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for use in improving the diagnostic quality of images, including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images, are disclosed. The methods include using a non-linear, probabilistic classifier algorithm to analyze a plurality of spatiotemporal features of RF backscatter and to produce a blood likelihood map or blood probability map that corresponds to the original IVUS image. The methods disclosed herein allow for visualizing both static and dynamic characteristic of a vessel either by producing a transparency modulated color overlay of the blood likelihood map without altering the underlying IVUS image or by processing the IVUS image based upon the blood likelihood map to better distinguish between static and dynamic components of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATON
    Inventors: Nikhil Rajguru, Vladimir Zagrodsky, David Goodwin, Jon Klingensmith, Wolf-Ekkehard Blanz, Bernhard Sturm
  • Patent number: 10292765
    Abstract: A photoablation device includes a laser source to propagate a focused laser beam with a beam waist, wherein a radius of the beam increases from the waist in a direction of propagation of the beam; an adjusting structure to adjust an intensity of the beam; a position detector to detect a position of the source in relation to the tissue; a positioning device to move the source in relation to the tissue; and a controller. The controller is to define a photoablation zone of the beam, wherein the zone ends in a cutting face located offset from the waist in the direction of propagation; adjust the intensity of the beam at the face of the zone using the adjusting structure; and move the beam towards the tissue by using the positioning device, wherein the position of the source detected by the position detector is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Osteotomy Tools—AOT AG
    Inventors: Alfredo E. Bruno, Philippe Cattin, Waldemar Deibel
  • Patent number: 10288786
    Abstract: Method, device (100) and system (200) for detection and quantification of the variation of eye damage caused by the blue and violet light of the visible spectrum comprising the steps of detecting the incident radiation on an individual's visual system; calculating the incident radiation within the range between 380 and 500 nm; establishing at least one threshold of incident radiation within said range; detecting if at least one threshold established for said range has been exceeded; warning of the excess of at least one threshold; measuring the exposure time to incident radiation; and inferring in the different ocular structures of an individual the effect of incident radiation and warning of such effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID, CRAMBO, S.A.
    Inventors: Celia Sanchez Ramos, Nilo Garcia Manchado
  • Patent number: 10269112
    Abstract: Through the measurement and interpretation of the pixels of grayscale digital thermographic images of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue, early intervention and treatment of abnormalities of the skin and its subcutaneous tissue are possible, thereby assisting clinicians in making significant impacts on prevention and treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: WoundVision, LLC
    Inventors: James G. Spahn, Kadambari Nuguru