Patents Examined by Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 10265004
    Abstract: In a blood information measuring apparatus, a plurality of types of light of a superficial layer wavelength set, a middle layer wavelength set, and a deep layer wavelength set are successively applied to a detected hypoxic region. A CCD captures an image under the light of each wavelength set, and an oxygen saturation image is produced independently from one wavelength set to another. A wavelength set determination section creates a histogram of each oxygen saturation image. The wavelength set determination section chooses one of the wavelength sets corresponding to the histogram having a maximum variance as an actual imaging wavelength set. Actual imaging operation is performed using the actual imaging wavelength set, and an oxygen saturation level of each pixel is calculated. The oxygen saturation level is reflected in the image, and the image is displayed on a monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Takaaki Saito
  • Patent number: 10244987
    Abstract: A physiological detection system including a light source module, a photo sensor and a processor is provided. The light source module is configured to provide light to illuminate a skin region. The photo sensor is configured to detect emergent light passing the skin region with at least one signal source parameter and output an image signal. The processor is configured to calculate a confident level according to the image signal to accordingly adjust the at least one signal source parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Sheau-Foong Chong, Chun-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 10235497
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe acquires a 3D image dataset of a volumetric region of the body. The 3D image data is reformatted into a sequence of successive parallel image planes extending in one of three orthogonal directions through the volume. The sequence of images (74, 84, 94) is preferably formatted in accordance with the DICOM standard so that a clinician can review the 3D image data as a sequence of DICOM images on an image workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips, N.V.
    Inventors: Jimmy Ray Brown, Kevin Bradley
  • Patent number: 10231688
    Abstract: The distance between the radiation source and an object (SOD value) is acquired, distance dependent information which is obtained from a radiation image and changes with the distance between a radiation source and a radiation detector (SID value) is acquired, a temporary thickness of the object is determined by a first function representing the correspondence relationship of first information having at least one piece of the distance dependent information, the SID value, and the thickness of the object, and the temporary SID value is determined by adding the SOD value to the determined value. The thickness of the object is determined by a second function representing the correspondence relationship of second information having at least one piece of the distance dependent information, the SID value, and the thickness of the object, and the SID value is determined by adding the SOD value to the determined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Naito, Takahiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10194889
    Abstract: Methods for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region include generating a tissue displacement in the target region; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the target region at a plurality of positions; analyzing the echo signals at one or more multi-resolution pairs of the positions and/or acquisition times; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on the echo signals at the one or more multi-resolution pairs of positions and/or acquisition times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Peter J. Hollender, Nicholas B. Bottenus
  • Patent number: 10194829
    Abstract: During operation, a system iteratively captures MR signals of one or more types of nuclei in one or more portions of a biological lifeform based on scanning instructions that correspond to a dynamic scan plan. The MR signals in a given iteration may be associated with voxels having associated sizes at three-dimensional (3D) positions in at least a corresponding portion of the biological lifeform. If the system detects a potential anomaly when analyzing the MR signals from the given iteration, the system dynamically modifies the scan plan based on the detected potential anomaly, a medical history and/or an MR-scan history. Subsequent measurements of MR signals may be associated with the same or different: types of nuclei, portions of the biological lifeform, voxels sizes and/or 3D positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Q Bio, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Howard Kaditz, Andrew Gettings Stevens
  • Patent number: 10189053
    Abstract: A curved high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer comprising a curved piezoelectric array having opposite convex and concave surfaces, the concave surface being a transmitting surface, and a plurality of acoustic transmission areas, a plurality of electrodes located on the surfaces of the curved piezoelectric array for applying electrical transmit signals to the acoustic transmission areas, and a unitary, continuously formed curved matching layer pre-formed to the desired curvature of the curved transducer array and bonded to the transmitting surface of the curved piezoelectric array which provides acoustic matching and electrical isolation for the transmitting surface of the curved piezoelectric array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Dennis Dean Clark, Barry C. Scheirer, Ryan Manning, Haifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10183166
    Abstract: Methods, medical devices, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are provided. A patient implanted with a medical device is exposed to a time-varying magnetic field having a signature, thereby inducing mechanical vibrations in at least one component of the medical device. A vibrational characteristic of the mechanical vibrations induced in the component(s) is detected. The vibrational characteristic is analyzed, and the signature of the magnetic field is identified based on the analyzed vibrational characteristic. The medical device is automatically switched from a first operational mode to a second operational mode when the signature is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiran K. Gururaj, Ross D. Venook, Matthew Lee McDonald, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Patent number: 10178967
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes optical tomographic systems for acquiring and displaying dynamic data representing changes in a target tissue sample to external provocation. For example, the disclosed devices, methods and systems may be used for quantifying dynamic vascular changes caused by imposed blood pressure changes for diagnosing peripheral artery disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Andreas H. Hielscher, Michael Khalil, Rajeev Dayal, Inkyong Kim Parrack, Hyun K. Kim
  • Patent number: 10165961
    Abstract: A system for magnetic resonance imaging of anatomy including a head is provided. The system includes a base member, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of articulable reception units. The plurality of support members are movably fixed to the base member and configured to translate across a surface of the base member. Each support member is releasably securable to the base member in a plurality of positions along the surface of the base member. The articulable reception units are movable from an open position to a plurality of closed positions. Each reception unit comprises at least one radio frequency (RF) receive coil disposed within a body, with the body configured for abutment with a portion of a head. Each of the plurality of articulable reception units is releasably secured in the plurality of closed positions by at least one of the plurality of support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vijayanand Alagappan, Fraser Robb, Miguel Angel Navarro, II, Craig William Culver, Victor Taracila, John Edward Ferut, Sarah Grace Leversee, Sanjay G. Mathias
  • Patent number: 10159454
    Abstract: An imaging system selects a medical imaging protocol using a repository of information associating multiple ranges of contrast agent peak time with corresponding different imaging protocols. An imaging protocol comprises a method for acquiring images using an imaging system and using data identifying at least one of (a) an imaging rate within an imaging scan cycle and (b) an interval between imaging scans. A contrast agent peak time comprises a time a contrast agent concentration substantially reaches a peak value in an anatomical region of interest of a patient relative to a time of start of contrast agent injection. A contrast agent peak time detector detects a contrast agent peak time. An imaging processor adaptively selects an imaging protocol from the imaging protocols in response to a comparison of a detected contrast agent peak time with at least one of the plurality of ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Katharine Lynn Rowley Grant, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10149629
    Abstract: A measuring system for probe, especially one for measuring dielectric properties and used in devices for measuring properties of dielectric constant changes in human or animal tissues, characterized in that it comprises a microwave resonance circuit (3) made on dielectric substrate and shaped in the form of a three-stage resonator composed of three segments of striplines with different impedances of each of the segments and arranged with respect to each other is such a way that successive segments are perpendicular to each other, and further comprises rows of grommets (2) with metallized surfaces connecting front surfaces on both sides of the substrate and constituting the earth of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: PIT-RADWAR SPOLKA AKCYJNA
    Inventors: Zenon Szczepaniak, Mariusz Ɓuszczyk
  • Patent number: 10149661
    Abstract: A probe cover is provided. The probe cover is configured to be detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe and cover plural switches on a surface of the ultrasonic probe, the probe cover including a depression portion by which an operator can depress at least some of the plural switches when the probe cover is attached to the ultrasonic probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Matsumura, Mitsuhiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 10143437
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units, and at least one processor. The gantry defines a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The plural detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore, and is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range. The at least one processor is configured to dynamically determine at least one boundary of an acquisition range corresponding to an uptake value of the object to be imaged for at least one of the detector units. The acquisition range is smaller than sweep range. The at least one processor is also configured to control the at least one detector unit to acquire imaging information over the acquisition range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yaron Hefetz, Jean-Paul Bouhnik
  • Patent number: 10092187
    Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measuring apparatus, having: a probe including a plurality of devices which detect an acoustic wave generated by irradiating light onto an object; and a signal processor which acquires information about the object on the basis of an acoustic wave received by the devices, wherein the light is irradiated onto the object from the probe side; the probe includes: bright-field devices having a view angle covering a bright-field illumination area, which is an area where the light is irradiated, on the probe-side surface of the object; and dark-field devices having a field of view which does not cover the bright-field illumination area; and the signal processor uses an acoustic wave received by the dark-field devices when acquiring information about the object on the basis of a acoustic wave received before a predetermined time period is elapsed since the irradiation of light onto the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru Ichihara, Shuichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10092197
    Abstract: Reflective surfaces for the apertures of PPG optical components in PPG systems is disclosed. In a PPG system or device, the addition of reflective surfaces around, under, or near the apertures of the optical components can enhance the amount of light received by the light detector. As a result, the measured PPG signal strength can be higher and more accurate compared to the same PPG device without reflective surfaces. The reflective surfaces can reflect and/or recycle light that is incident upon the reflective surfaces back into the skin for eventual capture of the light by the light detectors. In some examples, the reflective surfaces can be diffuse or specular reflectors and/or can be configured to selectively reflect one or more wavelengths of light. In some examples, the back crystal and/or component mounting plane of the PPG system can be made of the same material as the reflective surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Chin San Han
  • Patent number: 10085642
    Abstract: The application features methods, devices, and systems for measuring blood flow in a subject. The computer-implemented methods include receiving functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data that provides information on at least one of volume or oxygenation of blood at one or more locations in a body over a first predetermined length of time. The methods also include receiving near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) imaging or measurement data representing at least one of blood concentration or oxygenation at a first portion of the body over a second predetermined length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: McLean Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Blaise Frederick, Yunjie Tong
  • Patent number: 10085671
    Abstract: A method and medical system for estimating the deformation of an anatomic structure that comprises generating a first model of at least one anatomical passageway from anatomical data describing a patient anatomy and determining a shape of a device positioned within the branched anatomical passageways. The method and medical system also comprise generating a second model of the plurality of branched anatomical passageways by adjusting the first model relative to the determined shape of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent Duindam, Prashant Chopra, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 10080548
    Abstract: Ultrasonic imaging method includes sequentially emitting by each transducer group of respective regions, into which transducers are divided, focused ultrasonic pulses to a focal point of an object; sequentially acquiring, by each transducer group, ultrasonic echo signals from the focal point based on the emitted ultrasonic pulses; calculating a normal vector of a surface of the object using emission directions of the focused ultrasonic pulses and intensities of the ultrasonic echo signals in correspondence to the focused ultrasonic pulses emitted by three of the transducer groups; calculating an attenuation rate of the ultrasonic echo signals using the normal vector and the emission directions of the focused ultrasonic pulses emitted by the three of the transducer groups, and correcting the ultrasonic echo signals based on the attenuation rate; beamforming the ultrasonic echo signals, an attenuation of which has been corrected, into ultrasonic image signals to be output as an ultrasonic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Ihn Kho, Sun Kwon Kim, Sung Chan Park, Hee Sae Lee
  • Patent number: 10076301
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprises: obtaining intravascular data from an intravascular instrument positioned within a vessel of a patient while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position; obtaining an angiographic image of the vessel while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; correlating the intravascular data from the intravascular instrument to locations on the angiographic image; and outputting an enhanced angiographic image of the vessel on a display, the enhanced angiographic image including the angiographic image overlaid with visualizations representing the intravascular data at the correlated locations. Corresponding systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Joe Burnett, Howard David Alpert, Fergus Merritt