Patents Examined by Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 9498134
    Abstract: Optical source and detector arrangements, systems, and methods are described, which may be used to provide or analyze information about a subject, including hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations. Multiple optical detectors can be positioned at different distances from an optical source. The optical sources may irradiate the subject with optical signals and the optical detectors can detect the optical signals from the optical sources after passing through the subject. Analysis of the detected signals source can yield information about the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cephalogics, LLC
    Inventors: Jason W. Trobaugh, Chandran V. Seshagiri, Bertan Hallacoglu
  • Patent number: 9498290
    Abstract: A trajectory frame for use with surgical navigation systems includes a base having a patient access aperture formed therein. A yoke is mounted to the base and is rotatable about a roll axis. A platform is mounted to the yoke and is rotatable about a pitch axis. An elongated guide is secured to the platform and includes opposite proximal and distal end portions and a bore that extends from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The guide is configured to removably receive various devices therein for quick release therefrom, including an optical tracking probe (which may be a universal tracker) detectable by a camera-based tracking system or an EM probe detectable by an EM navigation system, a microelectrode probe driver adapter, a drill guide and drill bit, skull fixation device and driver, and a catheter guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MRI Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Piferi, Rajesh Pandey, Maxwell Jerad Daly, Kimble L. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9498236
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, system and a method for extracorporeal Shockwave treatment and in particular, to such a device, system and method in which a Shockwave is produced by a high pressure ballistic device utilizing a regulated high pressure energy source for generating an initial ballistic collision producing an initial Shockwave and an electromagnetic solenoid as reloading apparatus facilitating the formation of subsequent and/or successive Shockwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HI IMPACTS LTD
    Inventors: Eduard Papirov, Itzhak Friedman
  • Patent number: 9498185
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe (3) of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (1) includes an acceleration sensor (5) provided for outputting acceleration information for use in obtaining an angle of the ultrasound probe at the time of diagnosing a subject. The acceleration information is converted into angle information of the ultrasound probe by an angle conversion section (11). The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (1) includes a monitor (4) for displaying a diagnosing image of the subject obtained with the ultrasound probe (3), and a body mark (16) corresponding to the diagnostic mode selected at the time of diagnosing and a probe icon (15) placed at an angle corresponding to the angle information with respect to the body mark (16) are displayed on the monitor (4). This makes it possible to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which can display an angle of the ultrasound probe at the time of diagnosing the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Kimoto, Katsumi Satake, Seiichi Fukai, Satoru Uchikawa, Hajime Hirasawa, Masao Kimura
  • Patent number: 9498157
    Abstract: A method for calibrating detectors of a self-contained, tissue oximetry device includes emitting light from a light source into a tissue phantom, detecting in a plurality of detectors the light emitted from the light source, subsequent to reflection from the tissue phantom, and generating a set of detector responses by the plurality of detectors based on detecting the light emitted from the light source. The method further includes determining a set of differences between the set of detector responses and a reflectance curve for the tissue phantom, and generating a set of calibration functions based on the set of differences. Each calibration function in the set of calibration functions is associated with a unique, light source-detector pair. The method further includes storing the set of calibration function in a memory of the self-contained, tissue oximetry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kate LeeAnn Bechtel, Brian Wilfley
  • Patent number: 9498184
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for obtaining ultrasound images of a patient's breast that is chestwardly compressed with a template that is essentially planar and rotates relative to the breast while one or more ultrasound transducers moving with the template take 2D images of the breast through one or more respective radially oriented slots in the template, preferably through a membrane that is porous to a gel. The 2D images are processed into slice images representing breast slices of desired thicknesses and orientation that are displayed alone or with some of the 2D images, preferably pairs of orthogonally disposed 2D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: QVIEW MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Shih-Ping Wang
  • Patent number: 9492089
    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: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Andreas H. Hielscher, Michael Khalil, Rajeev Dayal, In-Kyong Kim, Hyun Keol Kim
  • Patent number: 9492143
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnosis device which is provided with a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism conceals an opening portion (a passage for a rotation shaft member), which is uncovered behind an operation panel when the operation panel moves forward, so as to enhance the appearance and safety. The shutter mechanism has a pair of first shutter plates and a pair of second shutter plates, the pairs overlapping each other. Each shutter plate rotates about a predetermined rotational shaft which does not slide back and forth. Each shutter plate has a pin slot into which a slide pin is inserted. A pair of slide pins are provided on a member that slides back and forth. When the pair of slide pins move forward, the contact relationship between the pair of slide pins and a plurality of pin slots causes the pair of first shutter plates to start closing first, and subsequently the pair of second shutter plates start closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9486640
    Abstract: A system and method for interactive therapy and diagnosis of a human or animal comprising at least one first radiation source for emission of a diagnostic radiation, at least one second radiation source for emission of a therapeutic radiation, and at least one radiation conductor adapted to conduct radiation to a tumor site at or in said human or animal. A non-mechanical operation mode selector directs the therapeutic radiation and/or the diagnostic radiation to the tumor site through the radiation conductors. The operation mode selector means is preferably a non-mechanical optical switch and/or an optical combiner. The system may be used for interactive interstitial photodynamic tumor therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SpectraCure AB
    Inventors: Marcelo Soto Thompson, Stefan Andersson Engels, Sune Svanberg
  • Patent number: 9486163
    Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Victor Marcel Acosta, Vikram Singh Bajaj, Andrew Homyk, Eric Peeters, Jason Donald Thompson
  • Patent number: 9480858
    Abstract: A radiotherapy system comprises a patient support, moveable along a translation axis, an imaging apparatus, comprising a first magnetic coil and a second magnetic coil, the first and second magnetic coils having a common central axis parallel to the translation axis, and being displaced from one another along the central axis to form a gap therebetween, the imaging apparatus being configured to obtain an image of a patient on the patient support, a source of radiation mounted on a chassis, the chassis being rotatable about the central axis and the source being adapted to emit a beam of radiation through the gap along a beam axis that intersects with the central axis, a multi-leaf collimator comprising a plurality of elongate leaves movable between at least a withdrawn position in which the leaf lies outside the beam, and an extended position in which the leaf projects across the beam, and a radiation detector mounted to the chassis opposite the source, the radiation detector having a plurality of detector ele
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Elekta AB (Publ)
    Inventors: John Allen, Kevin John Brown
  • Patent number: 9470772
    Abstract: Distortion correction is provided in magnetic resonance imaging. Distortions in one volume are corrected using another volume. The isocenter of the other volume is nearer to an edge of the one volume than the isocenter of the one volume. Using data registration, the other volume is used to correct distortions in the one volume. The other volume may be acquired in little time relative to the acquisition of the one volume by having a smaller field of view, lower resolution, and/or smaller signal-to-noise ratio. The other volume may be a connecting volume for correcting distortions in two volumes to be composed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: James G. Reisman, Steven Michael Shea
  • Patent number: 9463042
    Abstract: A system includes a handpiece configured to generate vibratory energy, and a generator coupled to the handpiece. The generator includes a processing device and a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions including receiving a pressure signal from the handpiece. The pressure signal is indicative of a pressure between the handpiece and a surgical implement. The functions further include determining the pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement, comparing the pressure to a predetermined pressure range, and transmitting a control signal to the handpiece when the pressure is within the predetermined pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: P Tech, LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Justin Beyers, Matthew Cremens
  • Patent number: 9464983
    Abstract: A concentration determination apparatus may determine a concentration of a target component in an arbitrary layer of an observed object including a plurality of light scattering medium layers. The concentration determination apparatus may include an irradiation unit, light scattering medium layer selection unit, a light receiving unit, a light intensity acquisition unit, an optical absorption coefficient calculation unit, and a concentration calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Amano, Koichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9456835
    Abstract: Lithotripter apparatuses and methods are provided for selectively modifying an acoustic pressure field and can include a shock wave source operable to generate a shock wave having a substantially axisymmetric acoustic pressure field, an acoustic focusing member positioned between the shock wave source and a target, and an acoustic barrier positioned between the shock wave source and the acoustic focusing member. The acoustic barrier can be operable to selectively block a portion of the shock wave generated by the shock wave source such that the substantially axisymmetric pressure field is transformed into a modified acoustic pressure field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pei Zhong, Walter Neal Simmons, Georgy N. Sankin, Nathan Smith, Franklin Hadley Cocks, Glenn M. Preminger
  • Patent number: 9456738
    Abstract: An endoscopic diagnosis system includes a first narrowband light source for emitting first narrowband light having a given wavelength range, a second narrowband light source for emitting second narrowband light having a wavelength range different from that of the first narrowband light, a first image sensor for receiving reflected light of the first narrowband light illuminating a subject from the subject to acquire a narrowband light image in a narrowband light observation mode, a second image sensor for receiving first autofluorescence emitted from the subject as the first narrowband light illuminates the subject to acquire a first autofluorescence image in a first autofluorescence observation mode and receiving second autofluorescence emitted from the subject as the second narrowband light illuminates the subject to acquire a second autofluorescence image in a second autofluorescence observation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9451920
    Abstract: A system for measuring of arterial and venous blood constituent concentration based first on measuring cardiac blood flow balance parameter between the right chamber of the heart and the left chamber of the heart, which includes a sensor device for measuring one of blood pressure and blood flow rate and blood constituent concentration of a patient so as to generate an arterial pulse signal. A processing unit is responsive to the arterial pulse signal for generating full arterial pulse plethysmography waveforms, arterio-venous pulse plethysmography waveforms, and balance parameters. A computational device that is responsive to plethysmography waveforms generating a plurality of state space linear transfer functions by applying system identification between plethysmography waveforms at various wavelengths representing a plurality of models of the blood constituent concentration, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, hemoglobin, and glucose, and displaying related useful information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Mohammad Khair
  • Patent number: 9451901
    Abstract: Invention is related to cardiology and intended for diagnosis of ischemic myocardial injuries. Magnetocardiographic examination is executed, current density vectors maps are reconstructed during ST-T interval and 4 sub-intervals of QRS complex, quantitative diagnostic indicators are calculated. Characterized in that, for said time intervals total length of all vectors (total current), autocorrelation coefficient of the instant map and its correlation with map onto the T wave peak are derived, several quantitative indicators for these curves are calculated (area under the curve, time intervals, their ratio, etc.) and ranges of their values are divided onto 3 intervals. As a result, absence/presence of ventricles injuries is diagnosed according to the rule—injury is absent (presence minor, significant), if certain quantitative indicator is ranged in one of 3 said intervals or if score of points for separate quantitative indicators is less than or equal to 7 (8-16, 17 and more).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Illya Anatoliiovych Chaykovskyy
  • Patent number: 9451928
    Abstract: A diagnostic image of internal anatomical features of a patient is annotated with representations of external features, such that both can be viewed together on a visual display. Adjustments to various treatment parameters relating to the administration of radiation therapy are provided, and the displayed image is automatically updated based on the adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Elekta LTD.
    Inventors: Tony Falco, Martin Lachaine, Jason Gorman
  • Patent number: 9445784
    Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound catheter may include a central lumen adapted to receive a drive shaft bearing an ultrasound transducer. The intravascular ultrasound catheter may in some instances exhibit improved flexibility. The catheter can include an inner polymeric layer, an outer polymeric layer and a spiral-cut hypotube that is positioned between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC
    Inventor: Daniel O'Keeffe