Patents Examined by Ruth S. Smith
  • Patent number: 10219777
    Abstract: This document describes a system for determining positioning of an intubation tube in a patient. The system can include a first acoustic sensor configured to be disposed to listen to one of a lung and a stomach of the patient and to provide a first signal. The system includes a signal processing unit, coupled to the first acoustic sensor, configured to analyze spectral components of the first signal and determine whether a frequency of the spectral components of the first signal are characteristic of sounds induced by ventilation via the intubation tube of airflow to the lung or the stomach of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Freeman, Ulrich Herken, Annemarie Silver
  • Patent number: 10159424
    Abstract: In a method and medical imaging apparatus, for generating medical image data records, raw data of the examination object are acquired by operation of a medical imaging scanner, a reconstruction algorithm issued for reconstructing a medical image data record on the basis of raw data and of a value of a physiological parameter. At least two medical image data records are created by applying the reconstruction algorithm at least twice to the acquired raw data using a different virtual value of the physiological parameter each time. The at least two medical image data records are provided from the reconstruction computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Greiser, Peter Speier, Aurelien Stalder
  • Patent number: 10154831
    Abstract: A method for creating a transmural lesion in tissue includes positioning a distal portion of a catheter near the tissue, where an ultrasound transducer is attached to the distal portion and is operatively coupled to a console and processor. The tissue is imaged by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a first power level to produce an ultrasound beam, where the imaging determines a thickness of the tissue, and a gap distance between the ultrasound transducer and the tissue. The tissue is ablated by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a second power level to produce the ultrasound beam. Energy delivered to the tissue during the ablating is controlled, using the processor, where the processor adjusts a speed of the ultrasound beam moving across the tissue based on the thickness and gap distance, to create the transmural lesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: VytronUS, Inc.
    Inventors: Hira V. Thapliyal, David A. Gallup, James W. Arenson, John Paul Mohr, III, Tim Proulx, Robert A. Brommer
  • Patent number: 10149987
    Abstract: A method for generating synthetic electron density information based on an acquired magnetic resonance, MR, image stack is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: SPECTRONIC AB
    Inventor: Carl Siversson
  • Patent number: 10149650
    Abstract: A method differentiates a blood vessel from a nonvascular tissue during a minimally invasive surgery using a device. A device may be any penetration sensor device, such as a dilator sensor device, a hollow needle sensor device, or a trocar sensor device, which penetrates the skin and subcutaneous layers to reach a target location inside the body. The penetration sensor device includes a sensor probe which can make optical measurements to determine various parameters of the tissue at the tip of the sensor probe. These parameters may include an optical signal level returned from tissue contacting the tip of the sensor probe, an oxygen saturation level of the tissue, a total hemoglobin concentration, a blood flow, and a pulse. Based on these parameters, the presence or absence of a blood vessel at the tip of the penetration sensor device can be determined while the device travels towards the target location for surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Patent number: 10143483
    Abstract: A device for treating the human or animal brain with shockwaves has a shockwave transducer coupled to a position sensor for detecting the position of the shockwave transducer. The device is adapted to evaluate the signals of the position sensor to calculate the position of the focus spot of the shockwave transducer. Furthermore, a mapping device is provided for mapping the movement of the focus spot over a plurality of positions together with the applied shockwave dose at each of the positions. The applied shockwave dose may be indicated on a color display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: STORZ MEDICAL AG
    Inventors: Ernst Marlinghaus, Gerold Heine
  • Patent number: 10136833
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus comprising a sealed case, a first antenna and a second antenna and processing circuitry are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the sealed case includes a biocompatible material and is configured for implantation within a body of a patient. Further, each one of the first antenna and the second antenna are configured to be implanted in the body in proximity to a target tissue, generate and transmit radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves through the target tissue to the other antenna, and output a signal in response to RF waves received from the other antenna. In addition, the processing circuitry can be contained within the case and is configured to receive and process the signal from each antenna so as to derive and output an indication of a characteristic of the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ZOLL MEDICAL ISRAEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Uriel Weinstein, Assaf Bernstein, Eyal Cohen, Dov Oppenheim, Moshe Mosesko
  • Patent number: 10130342
    Abstract: An embodiment includes analyzing a body part perfused with a contrast agent, which has been pre-administered as a bolus to circulate through the body-part with at least a first passage during an analysis interval. The analyzing includes providing at least one input signal indicative of a response to an interrogation signal of a corresponding location of the body part during the analysis interval, and fitting each input signal over the analysis interval by an instance of a combined bolus function of time, based on a combination of a first simple bolus function of time modeling the first passage of the contrast agent and at least one second simple bolus function of time each one modeling a corresponding second passage of the contrast agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bracco Suisse SA
    Inventors: Peter Frinking, Nicolas Rognin, Marcel Arditi
  • Patent number: 10133045
    Abstract: High-resolution 3D optical polarization tractography (OPT) images of the internal fiber structure of a target tissue. Manipulation of dual-angle imaging data of the fiber orientation inside a target tissue leads to the determination of 3D imaging properties of the target tissue, allowing transmission of the 3D image properties of the target tissue to an OPT processor to produce high-resolution 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Gang Yao, Dongsheng Duan, Yuanbo Wang
  • Patent number: 10114087
    Abstract: An RF coil includes a puncture needle insertion assembly in which a plurality of holes into which a puncture needle is inserted are formed within a surface of the puncture needle insertion assembly. In the puncture needle insertion assembly, conductors of a plurality of elements of a coil that are being insulated from one another are laid to meander on a frame between the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miyuki Ota, Sadanori Tomiha
  • Patent number: 10099069
    Abstract: A therapeutic apparatus (900, 1000) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (904) for heating a target zone (940, 1022). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system (902). The therapeutic apparatus further comprises a memory (952) containing machine executable instructions (980, 982, 984, 986, 988, 990) for execution by a processor (944). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to: generate (702, 802) heating commands (964) which cause the high intensity focused ultrasound system to sonicate the subject; repeatedly acquire (704, 804) magnetic resonance data (954) during execution of the heating commands; repeatedly calculate (706, 806) a spatially dependent parameter (970); and repeatedly modify (708, 808) the heating commands in accordance with the spatially dependent parameter such that within the target zone the spatially dependent parameter remains below a first predetermined threshold and above a second predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: Profound Medical Inc., National Institutes of Health
    Inventors: Ari Ilkka Mikael Partanen, Matthew Robert Dreher, Pavel Sergeyevich Yarmolenko, Antti Johannes Viitala, Julia Kristina Enholm, Max Oskar Kohler
  • Patent number: 10092358
    Abstract: A station for tomotactic-guided biopsy in prone includes a table with an aperture, and a tomosynthesis imaging system. A biopsy gun can be mounted on a stage arm assembly disposed below the table. The imaging system and stage arm assembly can be independently rotated and linearly repositioned in one or more dimensions, thereby allowing the tomotactic scan axis to be located relative to a breast being imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Defreitas, Ian Shaw, John Laviola
  • Patent number: 10092214
    Abstract: An imaging marker including a body portion having a cavity in the shape of a letter is described. The cavity can be filled with a liquid containing a substance that illuminates during an imaging process. The imaging marker can also include a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap can be configured to be placed on a first end of the body portion, and the second end cap can be configured to be placed on a second end of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: Randy Goodwin
  • Patent number: 10067206
    Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a first image taking unit, a second image taking unit, a position specifying unit, and a moving controlling unit. The first image taking unit performs an image taking process by implementing PET while using a first PET detector and a second PET detector. The position specifying unit specifies positions of the first PET detector and the second PET detector, on the basis of a medical image taken by the second image taking unit. The moving controlling unit controls moving of the first PET detector and the second PET detector in accordance with the specified positions. The first image taking unit and the second image taking unit each perform the image taking process after the first PET detector and the second PET detector have been moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takuzo Takayama, Hitoshi Yamagata, Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10058340
    Abstract: A shock wave applicator includes a housing multiple reflectors with shock wave generators projecting into a shared cavity. The multiple shock wave generators are able to produce a variety of shockwave focal volumes and wave fronts for medical treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SANUWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: Iulian Cioanta, Christopher M. Cashman
  • Patent number: 10046179
    Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (202) and a high intensity focused ultrasound system (202) with an adjustable focus (238). Execution of instructions causes a processor to control (100) medical instrument to sonicate the multiple sonication points while repeatedly acquire the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data. Multiple thermal maps are reconstructed using the thermal magnetic resonance imaging data and a heating center of mass is calculated for each. By comparing each of the heating center of masses to the sonication points a spatially dependent targeting correction (266) is determined. The spatially dependent targeting correction is then used to offset the adjustable focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Max Oskar Köhler
  • Patent number: 10048218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for non-invasive data acquisition from a human or animal body 7, comprising an antenna for irradiating a portion of the body, said antenna being connected to a source and a processor for collecting the data pursuant to the irradiation, wherein the antenna is a leaky wave antenna 1, 2, 3, 4 operable using a dielectric layer, the system being configurable so that the portion of the body 7 is at least partially used for the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventors: Frans Antonius Nennie, Andrea Neto, Stefania Monni
  • Patent number: 10036794
    Abstract: A patient couch for a magnetic resonance tomography system and a magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The patient couch includes a feed facility for radiofrequency energy having a plurality of conduction paths for feeding radiofrequency energy. The patient couch also includes a plurality of plug-in connectors for local coils having a transmit coil, and a distribution structure for the distribution of radiofrequency energy from the feed facility to the plug-in connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Kimmlingen, Norbert Rietsch
  • Patent number: 10029126
    Abstract: A system for providing focused ultrasound may include a focused ultrasound probe including at least one transducer. At least one variable volume fluid bladder may be positioned between at least a portion of the transducer and tissue to be treated. The system may further include a reservoir containing fluid and a first pump operatively connected to the bladder and the reservoir. The first pump may be configured to move fluid into the bladder. A second pump may be operatively connected to the bladder and the reservoir. The second pump may be configured to move fluid out of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SONACARE MEDICAL, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Carol, Robert D. Parks, Robert Craig Campbell, Drew T. Degentesh
  • Patent number: 10028758
    Abstract: A shockwave probe transducer structure includes a shock cup, a magnetic disc and a focusing module. The focusing module includes a circular cover and a focusing member installed between the circular cover and the shock cup. The focusing member is consisted of a focusing bag or a lens and a focusing bag closely coupled to each other. The focal point of the shockwave of the shockwave probe transducer structure can be changed by simply changing the focusing module installed at the front of the shockwave probe transducer structure, so as to overcome the problems of complicated changing procedure and possible water leakage and avoid the risk of damaging an expensive shockwave system or jeopardizing the safety of people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: LITE-MED INC.
    Inventors: Walt Hsu, Chia-Chi Lin