Patents Examined by Katrina Fujita
  • Patent number: 9727975
    Abstract: A method for medical image segmentation includes accessing and updating a knowledge-base. A medical image is received and a sparse landmark signature is computed based on the medical image. Either a representative or a cohort average reference image set is selected. A portion of either representative reference image set or the cohort average reference image set is deformed to generate mappings to the medical image set. A segmentation for each structure of interest of the medical image set is determined. The knowledge-base is searched for representative matches to form a plurality of sub-volume base sets comprising a plurality of reference image set sub-volumes. A portion of the plurality of reference image set sub-volumes is deformed to generate mappings from the plurality of sub-volume base sets to corresponding structures of interest of the medical image set. A weighted-average segmentation for the structures of interest in the medical image set is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Corey Zankowski
  • Patent number: 9720938
    Abstract: A feature amount calculation unit 61 calculates a feature amount corresponding to a pattern of a lesion by analyzing an inspection image. A probability calculation unit calculates a first existence probability which is a probability of the pattern of a lesion existing within the inspection image, using a calculation expression. The calculation expression is created in advance by a statistical method on the basis of a relationship between the feature amount and the presence or absence of the pattern of a lesion within an image for learning which is visually determined by a person. A similarity calculation unit calculates a similarity between the inspection image and a case image on the basis of the first existence probability and a second existence probability which is a probability of the pattern of a lesion existing within the case image which is calculated by the statistical method similarly to the first existence probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Kanada
  • Patent number: 9704267
    Abstract: An interactive content control apparatus and method includes a depth information acquisition unit for acquiring an image that includes depth information by capturing a static background object and a dynamic foreground object, and for calculating depth maps based on respective depth values of the static background object and the dynamic foreground object from the image, a display unit for projecting image content including a background image and an object image on a surface of the static background object captured by the depth information acquisition unit, and an image mapping unit for recognizing the dynamic foreground object depending on the depth maps based on the depth values calculated by the depth information acquisition unit, and controlling the display unit so that an object image projected on the surface of the static background object is transferred to and projected on a surface of the dynamic foreground object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hang-Kee Kim, Ki-Hong Kim, Hong-Kee Kim, Woo-Jin Jeon
  • Patent number: 9704027
    Abstract: A hand gesture may be characterized mathematically as a set of motion parameters applied to a dynamic motion model. Training may be conducted to compile a library of motion parameter sets corresponding to various gestures. Motion parameters corresponding to observed gestures may than be compared to the library of motion parameter sets to classify the observed gestures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Henry Chang, Sowmya Gopalan, Ning Yao, Yuhua Zhu
  • Patent number: 9675249
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a collection unit and a generation unit. The collection unit collects data of an imaging area over a plurality of time phases within a certain respiratory cycle after applying a labeling pulse to a labeling area in which cerebrospinal fluid flows under a task of respiration. The generation unit generates images of a plurality of time phases depicting the cerebrospinal fluid by using the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Yuichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9629525
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a normal light image acquisition section that acquires a normal light image that includes an object image and includes information within a wavelength band of white light, a special light image acquisition section that acquires a special light image that includes an object image and includes information within a specific wavelength band, a correction section that performs a correction process on the special light image, and a blending section that performs a blending process that blends the normal light image and a corrected special light image that is the special light image corrected by the correction section. The blending section blends a component G of the normal light image and a component G of the corrected special light image, and blends a component B of the normal light image and a component B of the corrected special light image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori Morita
  • Patent number: 9633480
    Abstract: An image obtaining unit obtains a subject image, a body thickness distribution modifying unit receives input of a virtual model having an estimated body thickness distribution and modifies the estimated body thickness distribution of the virtual model to output the modified estimated body thickness distribution, and a body thickness distribution determining unit determines the outputted estimated body thickness distribution to be used as the body thickness distribution of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Enomoto, Yasufumi Oda, Takashi Tajima, Takeshi Kuwabara, Daiki Harada, Yuichi Hosoi, Haruyasu Nakatsugawa
  • Patent number: 9633432
    Abstract: An image analysis method and an apparatus thereof for assessment of PD (peritoneal dialysis) complications in peritoneal dialysis are provided. An analysis procedure is executed on an image under test of a dialysis bag, so as to obtain a color location in a color space corresponding to the image under test. A prompt signal is sent when the color locations obtained in a time period gradually become close to a disease warning range after executing the analysis procedure on a plurality of images under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: National Tsing Hua University, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University Hospital
    Inventors: Hung-Shao Chen, Jenq-Wen Huang, Hsi-Pin Ma
  • Patent number: 9629587
    Abstract: A method is provided including determining at least one range of phases of a cardiac cycle from which to select a selected phase based on at least one of patient demographic information, patient physiological information, or a general physiological model. The method also includes generating corresponding intermediate images for each of the phases of the at least one range of phases. Further, the method includes selecting the selected phase based on at least one image quality (IQ) metric of the intermediate images. Also, the method includes generating an image for diagnostic use using imaging information from the selected phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darin Robert Okerlund, Sandeep Dutta, Brian Edward Nett, David Pazzani, Daniel Stassi, Tal Gilat Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9595089
    Abstract: A method and system for non-invasive hemodynamic assessment of coronary artery stenosis based on medical image data is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient. Patient-specific boundary conditions of a computational model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries. Blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries are simulated using the computational model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific boundary conditions and coronary autoregulation is modeled during the simulation of blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries. A wave-free period is identified in a simulated cardiac cycle, and an instantaneous wave-Free Ratio (iFR) value is calculated for a stenosis region based on simulated pressure values in the wave-free period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Lucian Mihai Itu, Puneet Sharma, Thomas Redel, Bogdan Georgescu
  • Patent number: 9576331
    Abstract: Disclosed inventions relates to methods and systems for encoding at least one watermark into a stereoscopic conjugate pair of images. An example method comprises the step of encoding the at least one watermark by shifting selected pixels of said pair of images in one or more directions. The one or more directions include a horizontal direction. In the disclosed embodiments, ancillary information is not required to support decoding of encoded watermarks in addition to the transmitted left and right images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Virginia Venture Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Abeloe
  • Patent number: 9578220
    Abstract: An observation device (1) is provided with: a general observation unit (10) for observing sample cells by observing an entire container (C) containing the cells and a culture solution; and a magnification observation unit (20) for magnifying a region within the container (C) and observing the cells, the general observation unit (10) and the magnification observation unit (20) each individually having lighting for illuminating the cells with light, and an optical system for observing the cells. The general observation unit (10) and the magnification observation unit (20) are thereby each provided with an individual optical system and lighting, making it possible to configure an appropriate observation unit for use both when the cells are observed by observing the entire container (C) and when a part within the container (C) is magnified and the cells are observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Houjou, Atsushi Oda
  • Patent number: 9563805
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus of an eye gaze tracking system. In particular, the present invention relates to method and apparatus of an eye gaze tracking system using a generic camera under normal environment, featuring low cost and simple operation. The present invention also relates to method and apparatus of an accurate eye gaze tracking system that can tolerate large illumination changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hong Kong Baptist University
    Inventors: Yiu-ming Cheung, Qinmu Peng
  • Patent number: 9552658
    Abstract: A compressive sensing system for dynamic video acquisition. The system includes a video signal interface including a compressive imager configured to acquire compressive sensed video frame data from an object, a video processing unit including a processor and memory. The video processing unit is configured to receive the compressive sensed video frame data from the video signal interface. The memory comprises computer readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to generate a motion estimate from the compressive sensed video frame data and generate dynamical video frame data from the motion estimate and the compressive sensed video frame data. The dynamical video frame data may be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Jianing V. Shi, Aswin C. Sankaranarayanan, Christoph Emanuel Studer, Richard G. Baraniuk
  • Patent number: 9545238
    Abstract: A method and system for the diagnosis of 3D images are disclosed, which significantly cuts the time required for the diagnosis. The 3D images are for example an image volume dataset of a magnetic resonance tomography system which is saved in an RIS or PACS system. In at least one embodiment, the diagnostic finding are partially automatically generated, and details of the position, size and change in pathological structures are compared to previous diagnostic findings are generated automatically. As a result of this automation the diagnostic work of radiologists is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rüdiger Bertsch, Roland Brill, Alexander Cavallaro, Maria Jimena Costa, Martin Huber, Michael Kelm, Helmut König, Sascha Seifert, Michael Wels
  • Patent number: 9542762
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray CT apparatus and an image reconstruction method that can generate an image in which motion influence of a site to be scanned is reduced, the image processing device 403 of the X-ray CT apparatus 1 calculates a reconstruction data range which is a range of projection data to be used for reconstruction based on a motion direction of the site to be scanned. An image is reconstructed using the projection data in the calculated reconstruction data range. The reconstruction data range is set as the projection data in a projection range of at least 180 degrees or more including a projection direction that approximately corresponding to the motion direction of the site to be scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Okamoto, Hiroto Kokubun, Fuyuhiko Teramoto
  • Patent number: 9517109
    Abstract: A medical system that is capable of displaying a virtual image, comprising: a sensor comprising hardware, wherein the sensor implements: a first detection section that detects information related to at least one of a position and an orientation of an operator; a second detection section that detects a position of an object in a surgery room; and a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor implements: a calculation section that calculates an area where the virtual image is to be arranged in the air based on the information; a determination section that determines whether or not the object is present in the area based on a result of the detection by the second detection section; and a control section that causes the virtual image to be arranged in the area based on a determination result by the determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yorito Maeda, Kuniaki Kami, Koichi Tashiro
  • Patent number: 9501707
    Abstract: Methods and systems for bootstrapping an OCR engine for license plate recognition. One or more OCR engines can be trained utilizing purely synthetically generated characters. A subset of classifiers, which require augmentation with real examples, along how many real examples are required for each, can be identified. The OCR engine can then be deployed to the field with constraints on automation based on this analysis to operate in a “bootstrapping” period wherein some characters are automatically recognized while others are sent for human review. The previously determined number of real examples required for augmenting the subset of classifiers can be collected. Each subset of identified classifiers can then be retrained as the number of real examples required becomes available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Claude Fillion, Aaron M. Burry, Vladimir Kozitsky
  • Patent number: 9483495
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computerized travel services. One of the methods includes identifying photographs using an index of photographs, the photographs being identified from the index as photographs geographically related to a point of interest or destination and having a creation timestamp corresponding to a time of the year; determining for each of the photographs, a relevancy score based at least in part on: selection success data of the photograph for image queries referring to the point of interest or destination, and references to the point of interest or destination in documents associated with the photograph; and selecting a selected photograph from the photographs based at least in part on a respective visual quality score and the respective relevancy scores, the visual quality score representing a degree of visual quality of the respective photographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Barnaby John James, Bala Venkata Sai Ravi Krishna Kolluri
  • Patent number: 9483825
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for estimating a distance using a dual off-axis color filter aperture (DCA). An object detection unit is configured to detect an object from an image taken by a camera having the DCA equipped with a first filter having a first color and a second filter having a second color complementary to the first color. A color shifting value calculation unit is configured to calculate a color shifting value (CSV) using a color shift property between color channels of the image in a region corresponding to the detected object. A distance estimation unit is configured to estimate a distance from the camera to each point of the object based on the calculated CSV and camera parameters including a focal distance of the camera, a focal plane of the camera, and a position of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CHUNG-ANG UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMY COOPERATION
    Inventors: Joon-Ki Paik, Seung-Won Lee