Patents Examined by Joel Lamprecht
  • Patent number: 11903656
    Abstract: A method includes emitting an ultrasound beam, having a predefined field of view (FOV), from an array of ultrasound transducers in a catheter in an organ of a patient. Echo signals are received in the array, in response to the ultrasound beam. A position of a target object is estimated within the FOV. When the estimated position of the target object violates a centering condition, the FOV of the ultrasound beam is automatically modified to re-meet the centering condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Andres Claudio Altmann
  • Patent number: 11896422
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for calculating a pulse wave velocity based on a plurality of intravascular ultrasonic pulses directed along a vessel. For each ultrasonic pulse, a plurality of echoes is received from a plurality of distances along the vessel. A first ultrasound Doppler signal is received from a first distance from the pulse origin and a second ultrasound Doppler signal from a second distance from the pulse origin. A first and second flow velocity metric is obtained based on the first and second ultrasound Doppler signal, respectively. The pulse wave velocity is calculated based on the time delay, which is based on the first flow velocity metric and the second flow velocity metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Maarten Petrus Joseph Kuenen, Arjen Van Der Horst
  • Patent number: 11890076
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a hollow flexible shaft having a central longitudinal axis and an imaging window therein. An optical fiber extends within the hollow flexible shaft substantially along the central axis. A distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the hollow flexible shaft and aligned with the imaging window so as to transfer an optical coherence tomography signal through the imaging window. A handle is attached to the hollow flexible shaft configured rotate the hollow flexible shaft at speeds of greater than 1,000 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter H. Smith, Manish Kankaria, Priyanshu Gupta, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall
  • Patent number: 11890143
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for identifying connected regions in ultrasound images. An exemplary method includes acquiring ultrasound video data of an anatomical region while a force is being applied to induce movement within the anatomical region, the ultrasound video data including a plurality of ultrasound images. The method includes identifying two or more connected regions in one of the plurality of ultrasound images, generating a modified ultrasound image by graphically distinguishing the first connected region from the second connected region, and causing a display device to display the modified image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventor: Christian Perrey
  • Patent number: 11890141
    Abstract: An ultrasonic blood flow parameter displaying method, comprises: acquiring, by means of a probe, an ultrasonic signal from an object to be scanned; acquiring, according to the ultrasonic signal, a plurality of velocities and directions of blood flow within the object to be scanned; extracting the plurality of velocities and directions of blood flow; quantifying the dispersion of the plurality of velocities and directions of the blood flow extracted; and displaying the quantization result of the dispersion. The present invention provides a method for quantifying and evaluating the direction of the motion of blood flow, and provides a better perspective of observation for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yigang Du
  • Patent number: 11890078
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by an electronic device, sensor data during a spirometry test of a user, the sensor data comprising audio data of the user and distance data of a distance from a face of the user to the electronic device. The method also includes obtaining, by the electronic device, an amount of air volume exchange and at least one pulmonary health parameter that are determined based on the audio data and the distance data. The method also includes presenting an indicator on a display of the electronic device for use by the user or a medical provider, the indicator representing the amount of air volume exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Korosh Vatanparvar, Viswam Nathan, Md Mahbubur Rahman, Ebrahim Nematihosseinabadi, Jilong Kuang, Jun (Alex) Gao
  • Patent number: 11890139
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are portable ultrasound systems and methods. In an example, a portable ultrasound system can include a handheld computer, a case holding the handheld computer, a probe head coupled to the case, and a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer. The handheld computer can include a display. The case can also include an anterior opening framing the display of the handheld computer. The case can include a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening. The probe head can include an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the battery. In another example, a method of the portable ultrasound system includes a method of using the portable ultrasound system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Patent number: 11893736
    Abstract: A hyperspectral facial analysis system and method for personalized health scoring to assess the risk that a person has a disease. Embodiments capture images in multiple spectral bands, such as visible, infrared, and ultraviolet, and analyze these images to generate multiple health metrics, such as pallor, temperature, sweat, and chromophores. These metrics may be combined into an overall health score that may be used for screening. Image analysis may focus on the area under the eyes, where skin is thinnest. Images may be compared to a reference population to identify anomalous values, so that health scoring automatically adjusts for local conditions. Pallor may be calculated based on hue and saturation of visible light images. Temperature may be calculated based on infrared image intensity. Sweat may be calculated using cross-polarized images to identify specular highlights. Chromophores may be calculated by comparing frequency domain ultraviolet images to those of the reference population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: VR Media Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Gregory Passmore
  • Patent number: 11890137
    Abstract: Disclosed is an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, including a processor circuit in communication with an intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter, and configured to receive a plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images from the imaging catheter during movement of the imaging catheter within a body lumen of a patient, the body lumen comprising a plurality of segments. The processor circuit is further configured to generate a marker to be applied to an intraluminal ultrasound image of the plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images, wherein the marker is generated based on the movement of the intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter, and wherein the marker is representative of a segment of the plurality of segments, and output to a display the marker and the plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images shown successively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rebecca Ann Jenkins, Pei-Yin Chao, Nikhil Sreedhar Rajguru, Tracy LeFever, Carl Rowe
  • Patent number: 11883211
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques for triggering magnetic resonance data acquisition. The techniques include detecting a respiration direction of a respiration signal of an acquisition subject, predicting in real time an amplitude peak value of an expiration signal in the current respiration period according to the real-time respiration signal of the acquisition subject, multiplying the amplitude peak value by a preset coefficient, and using the product as a trigger point threshold of the current respiration period. When it is determined that an expiration stage of the current respiration period is starting, the techniques also include calculating in real time or periodically the absolute value of the difference between the amplitude of the current expiration signal and the trigger point threshold currently calculated, and if the absolute value of the difference is less than a preset difference threshold, then triggering MR data acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jin Qiang He, Fang Dong, De He Weng
  • Patent number: 11877806
    Abstract: A system for registering a luminal network to a 3D model of the luminal network includes a computing device configured to identify potential matches in the 3D model with location data of a location sensor, assigning one of the potential matches a registration score based on a deformation model applied to the 3D model, and displaying the potential match having the highest registration score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Evgeni Kopel, Oren P. Weingarten, Alexander Nepomniashchy, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 11877892
    Abstract: A device is provided for ultrasound-based reflection and transmission tomography. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are held around an imaging volume to be filled with an ultrasonic coupling medium, the transducer holder having an opening for inserting, into the imaging volume, at least one part of a body to be imaged. During imaging, the body to be imaged is supported, where a support-member-opening allows access to the transducer holder by at least one part of the body. A diaphragm is arranged across the support-member-opening such that a center of a diaphragm-opening is placed substantially at a predetermined position. The ultrasonic coupling medium flows out of the imaging volume when at least one part of the body to be imaged is inserted into the imaging volume filled with the ultrasonic coupling medium and/or during imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
    Inventors: Nicole Ruiter, Hartmut Gemmeke, Michael Zapf, Torsten Hopp, Nima Rashvand
  • Patent number: 11872080
    Abstract: A multi-modal heart diagnostic system is provided. The diagnostic system can monitor heart activity and assists a user or operator in performing echocardiography. The system can include a positioning device that is placed on a patient's chest. The positioning device can incorporate several multi-modal sensors. The multi-modal sensors can measure different parameters associated with an assessment of heart activity. The multi-modal sensors can also be used to provide information that can assist an operator in positioning the probe within the positioning device to capture an echocardiogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: Emil Jovanov, Nenad Filipovic
  • Patent number: 11864743
    Abstract: Apparatus and method can be provided for obtaining at least one anatomical sample. For example, it is possible to provide and insert a housing into a body or provided on a hydrated anatomical structure. Further, with a source, it is possible to emit an electromagnetic radiation which causes at least the anatomical sample(s) to attach to at least one portion of the housing. A compound can be provided on a surface of the housing, and the source provides the radiation to the compound and changes properties thereof to be adhesive. The source can provide the radiation to the housing, and can change properties of a surface thereof to be adhesive. A component can be provided on a surface of the anatomical structure, and the source provides the radiation to the compound and changes properties thereof to be adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Joseph Gardecki, Chia-Pin Liang
  • Patent number: 11869154
    Abstract: A method and system are for acquiring a dataset created via an imaging modality, the dataset describing a 3D-shape of a 3D-object; adapting, in dependence on the 3D-shape of the 3D-object, a flat 2D-grid of intersecting grid lines to follow a surface curvature of the 3D-object to create an adapted grid, a distance between two neighbouring intersections, along the grid lines of the adapted grid following the surface curvature of the 3D-object, being equal to a respective corresponding distance between a respective two neighbouring intersections of the flat 2D-grid before the adapting; and outputting the adapted grid for display over at least one of the 3D-object and a virtual model of the 3D-object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Bjoern Suchy
  • Patent number: 11864949
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes transmitting a set of ultrasound waves to towards a target area. The set of ultrasound waves are transmitted by a set of ultrasound elements. The set of ultrasound elements are positioned at different locations in a transducer assembly. The method also includes receiving a set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves. The set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves are received by the set of ultrasound elements. The method further includes determining a set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements. Each correction value of the set of correction values represents a refraction of one reflection of the set of reflections as the one reflection passes through a respective ultrasound element of the set of ultrasound elements. The method further includes generating imaging data based on the set of reflections of the set of ultrasound waves and the set of correction values for the set of ultrasound elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Hansen
  • Patent number: 11857371
    Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus includes: a display unit configured to display on an ultrasound image a measuring device image including a plurality of measuring points which indicate points on the ultrasound image that are to be measured, and an adjusting portion for adjusting the plurality of measuring points; an input unit configured to receive a touch input for changing a position of the adjusting portion; and a controller configured to adjust a position of at least one of the plurality of measuring points based on the changed position of the adjusting portion, and to obtain a measurement value based on positions of the plurality of measuring points including the at least one measuring point, the position of which is adjusted, wherein the plurality of measuring points are disposed apart from the adjusting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-ju Lee, Yoon-woo Jun
  • Patent number: 11857376
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for intraluminal ultrasound imaging are provided. An intraluminal ultrasound imaging system may include a patient interface module (PIM) in communication with an intraluminal device comprising an ultrasound imaging component and positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The PIM may receive ultrasound echo signals from the intraluminal device, transmit the ultrasound echo signals along a differential signal path, and digitize the ultrasound echo signals. The PIM may transmit the ultrasound wirelessly to a processing system. The PIM may be powered with a wireless charging system, such as an inductive charging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cesar Perez, Samuel Sidney Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11857362
    Abstract: A method of assembling an intravascular imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a support member having a body portion including a plurality of recesses longitudinally spaced from one another; positioning a flex circuit around the support member such that the flex circuit is radially spaced from the body portion of the support member; and filling a space between the flex circuit and the support member with a backing material through the plurality of recesses of the body portion. In one embodiment, an intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member; an imaging assembly including: a flex circuit; and a support member around which the flex circuit is disposed, the support member having a body portion including plurality of recesses, wherein the support member defines lumen in fluid communication with a space between the flex circuit and the support member via the plurality of recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kenneth Wrolstad, Maritess Minas, Princeton Saroha, Jeremy Stigall
  • Patent number: 11850025
    Abstract: A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: William Richard Fright, Brent Stephen Robinson, Shane Robert Goodwin, Bruce Clinton McCallum, Philip John Barclay