Patents Examined by Younhee Choi
  • Patent number: 11109844
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an ultrasound probe and transmitter circuitry. The ultrasound probe is connected to a body through a cable and includes an ultrasound transducer element to transmit and receive an ultrasound wave. The transmitter circuitry generates transmission waveform data, generates, from the generated transmission waveform data, transmission signals that the ultrasound probe uses for transmitting ultrasound waves, and outputs the generated transmission signals to the ultrasound probe. When causing the ultrasound probe to transmit a plurality of ultrasound waves with different phases successively depending on a transmission condition, the transmitter circuitry generates transmission waveform data based on which a sum component of the ultrasound waves transmitted successively is within a certain range, by using the transmission signals detected between the cable and the ultrasound transducer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Kameishi, Makoto Hirama
  • Patent number: 11109843
    Abstract: Alignment of an ultrasonograph and volume data obtained beforehand is correctly performed without requiring a user to perform complicated operation. First volume data for an ultrasonograph and second volume data obtained by another imaging apparatus are received and aligned. A predetermined imaging part selected from a plurality of imaging parts of a subject is received from a user. The second volume data are initially rotated by a rotation angle corresponding to the imaging part received by the receptor, and alignment of the initially rotated second volume data and the first volume data after is further carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Zisheng Li, Tsuneya Kurihara, Yasuhiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11097131
    Abstract: A probe for treating an ocular pathology. The probe has a ring including a cone frustum having a first end suitable for supporting an ultrasound generator and a second end for coming into contact with an eye of a patient. The ultrasound generator includes a first base intended to come to face the first end, and a second base opposite the first base. The probe further includes a flow regulator for eliminating the bubbles contained in a coupling fluid flowing to the first base when filling the probe with the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: EYE TECH CARE
    Inventors: Phillipe Chapuis, Thomas Charrel, Cedric Devigne, Nicolas Laisney, Arash Razavi Mashoof
  • Patent number: 11096663
    Abstract: A system for providing navigational guidance to a sonographer acquiring images may provide haptic feedback to the sonographer. The haptic feedback may be provided through an ultrasonic probe or a separate device. Haptic feedback may include vibrations or other sensations provided to the sonographer. The system may analyze acquired images and determine the location of acquisition and compare it to a desired image based, at least in part, on the acquired image. The system may then provide the haptic feedback to guide the sonographer to move the ultrasonic probe to the location to acquire the desired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Schneider, Vijay Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 11090030
    Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus and a method of emitting plane wave are provided. The ultrasound apparatus includes an ultrasound probe, a transceiver circuit, a switch module and a processor. The ultrasound probe has a 1st to a Mth transducer elements for respectively emitting ultrasound beams to form the plane wave, and the transceiver circuit has a 1st to a Nth transceiving channels. M, N are positive integers, and M is a multiple of N. During a scanning period, the processor controls the switch module to initially and respectively connect the 1st-Nth transceiving channels to the 1st-Nth transducer elements, such that the 1st-Nth transducer elements successively emit the ultrasound beams. After the ultrasound beam is emitted by the Nth transducer element, the processor controls the switch module to respectively connect the 1st-Nth transceiving channels to the (N+1)th-(2N)th transducer elements, such that the (N+1)th-(2N)th transducer elements successively emit the ultrasound beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Leltek Inc.
    Inventors: Ying-Yi Liu, Sheng-Chang Peng, Kuo-Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 11083526
    Abstract: A medical system for shape sensing by interacting with a shape sensing element (12) configured to perform a shape sensing measurement of an interventional device (14) and by interacting with an image data generation unit (28) for generating image data (21) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sander Hans Denissen, Laurent Verard
  • Patent number: 11083439
    Abstract: Cooling units for an ultrasound imaging apparatus, and related ultrasound systems are described. The ultrasound imaging systems may include an ultrasound imaging apparatus operable to acquire ultrasound image data; and a cooling unit configured to detachably couple to the ultrasound imaging apparatus. The cooling unit may be cordless and include an active cooling element for removing heat from the ultrasound imaging apparatus. The ultrasound imaging apparatus may have a sensor to determine when the cooling unit is attached. The cooling unit may have an identity interface, and the ultrasound imaging apparatus may use the identity interface to determine whether the cooling unit is compatible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Clarius Mobile Health Corp.
    Inventors: Kwun-Keat Chan, Binda Zhang, Daniel Rahardja
  • Patent number: 11064935
    Abstract: A test device is used to test photosensitivity of a skin. The test device is provided with an irradiation unit including a plurality of light irradiation units arranged in a first direction. The plurality of light irradiation units output, in a second direction intersecting the first direction, irradiation light beams that mutually differ at least in one of wavelength characteristics and intensity. The irradiation unit is configured such that intensities of the irradiation light beams output from the plurality of light irradiation units are progressively smaller in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY, NIKKISO CO., LTD
    Inventors: Michihiro Kono, Masashi Akiyama, Yasushi Ogawa, Hideki Asano, Suguru Mishina, Satoru Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 11058403
    Abstract: Using ultrasound frame data generated from the ultrasound echo reflected from the living tissue, the movement amount of the living tissue and its representative value are calculated. In a case where the representative value of the tissue movement amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_large having a large degree of hue change is used, and an elastic image in which distortion is expressed by hue corresponding to the magnitude is generated. On the other hand, in a case where the representative value of the movement amount of the living tissue is less than the predetermined threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_small having a small degree of hue change is used to generate an elastic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11045169
    Abstract: A device comprises a cannula having a first end, a second end, and a channel between the first end and the second end; an imaging probe couplable to the first end of the cannula, where the imaging probe includes: a transducer, and a reflective surface; and a biopsy device coupled to the cannula, where the biopsy device is configured to collect a tissue sample from an organ of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Barbara Smith, Joel Barkley, Christopher Miranda
  • Patent number: 11020057
    Abstract: An ultrasound cardiovascular measuring device may include an ultrasonic sensor system having an ultrasound transmitter layer configured to generate ultrasonic plane waves and a focusing layer that includes one or more lenses. One or more of the lenses may be configured to generate output signals corresponding to detected ultrasonic reflections. The measuring device may include a control system capable of processing the output signals to calculate values corresponding to one or more cardiovascular properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: David Boettcher Baek, Philip John Schneider, Lars Lading, Aiman Abdel-Malek, John Keith Schneider
  • Patent number: 11020058
    Abstract: A system for calculating blood pressure may include a sensor system and a control system. The control system may be capable of controlling one or more sensors of the sensor system to take at least two measurements, the at least two measurements including at least one measurement taken at each of two or more different measurement elevations of a subject's limb. In some examples, the control system may be capable of determining a blood flow difference based on the at least two measurements, of determining a hydrostatic pressure difference based on the two or more different elevations of the at least two measurements and of estimating a blood pressure based on one or more values of blood flow, the hydrostatic pressure difference and the blood flow difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lars Lading, David Boettcher Baek
  • Patent number: 10993625
    Abstract: Method for automatic detection of inflammation or functional disorder according to temperature asymmetry estimation in contralateral body parts is presented. Simultaneously recorded thermogram and the optical image of the inspected and contralateral body parts are sent to the processing unit, where they are stored, processed, and analyzed. Method automatically detects outlines of body parts in thermograms and optical images. Grid of points of interest is distributed inside the inspected and the contralateral body part's outline. Temperature maps are calculated according to both grids points and the temperature disparity map is estimated. The set of inflammation regions is obtained by analyzing the temperature disparity map and collecting adjacent points containing temperature differences surpassing the threshold. This is non-invasive and non-contact inspection method, suitable for real world environments with natural home or health care institutions background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: UAB DIABETIS
    Inventors: Urte Steikuniene, Gintare Marine, Rytis Zajanckauskas, Jonas Guzaitis
  • Patent number: 10993624
    Abstract: A method and system optimize a thermoacoustic transducer functionality that is utilized in a thermoacoustic imaging system. The method and system select a pre-determined transducer geometry for the thermoacoustic imaging system, utilize the thermoacoustic imaging system with the pre-determined transducer geometry to generate at least one impulse in a field of view, acquire data from the impulse, reconstructing the data to generate N-dimensional impulse responses based upon respective channel responses, respective view responses, and a function of the acquired data, utilize the N-dimensional transforms for each image to generate a value for the pre-determined transducer functionality, and utilize the value for the pre-determined transducer functionality to determine an optimum thermoacoustic transducer functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ENDRA Life Sciences Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Zahn Douthat, Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
  • Patent number: 10973585
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present technology involve methods, devices, and systems for determining an orientation of a surgical tool during ophthalmic surgery. An example method includes performing an optical imaging scan in the surgical site, using a scan pattern that intersects the surgical tool and generating a scan image from the optical imaging scan. The example method further comprises analyzing the scan image to determine a location in the scan image corresponding to where the surgical tool intersected the optical imaging scan, and determining an orientation of the surgical tool, based on the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu
  • Patent number: 10966629
    Abstract: A system and medical device for the electromagnetic tracking of a medical instrument transported through the medical device. The medical device has a central axis and a channel that receives and transports a medical instrument through the medical device. The channel extends to a distal portion of the medical device and connects with an opening in the medical device that is not aligned with the central axis. The medical device includes a tracking component that is a plurality of coordinated electromagnetic sensors for generating a virtual axis of travel for the medical instrument, with the virtual axis passing through the opening of the device and being aligned with tool insertion axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Aditya Mehendale, Funda Sahin, Gregory Cole, Hao Su, Vijay Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 10959642
    Abstract: Ultra-high b radial diffusion-weighted imaging signals can be obtained from a selected portion of a nervous system of a subject. At least two ultra-high b radial diffusion-weighted imaging signals for the selected portion of the nervous system of the subject can be compared. The comparison is indicative of changes in the integrity or intactness of a bundle of axons within the selected portion of the nervous system of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Eun-Kee (E. K.) Jeong, Nabraj Sapkota, Kyle Jeong, Youjung Lee, Bijaya Thapa, John W. Rose, Lubdha Shah, Erica Bisson
  • Patent number: 10953242
    Abstract: An intervention system employs an interventional device (10), and a sensor wire (20) manually translatable within a lumen (11). The intervention system further employs a reconstruction controller (44) for reconstructing a shape of the interventional tool (10) responsive to a sensing of a manual translation of the sensor wire (20) within the lumen (11) (e.g., a EM sensor being attached to/embedded within a guide wire), and for determining a reconstruction accuracy of a translation velocity of the sensor wire (20) within the lumen (11) to thereby facilitate an accurate reconstruction of the shape of the interventional tool (10). The reconstruction accuracy may be determined by the reconstruction controller (44) as an acceptable translation velocity being less than an acceptable threshold, an unacceptable translation velocity being greater than an unacceptable threshold, and/or a borderline translation velocity being greater than the acceptable threshold and less than the unacceptable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shyam Bharat, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast, Cynthia Ming-Fu Kung, Jochen Kruecker, Ananth Ravi, Niranjan Venugopal
  • Patent number: 10932746
    Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Bouhnik, Yaron Hefetz
  • Patent number: 10898105
    Abstract: A magnetometer-based metal detection device and methods of use are described. The device includes a proximal portion, a central body and a distal portion, and at least one magnetometer positioned within or on the distal portion. The at least one magnetometer includes at least one sensor capable of sensing a magnetic field in three orthogonal axes. Also described is a method of calibrating the device to achieve rotational invariance, and a method of determining a directionality or directional line along which a target metal object lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
    Inventors: Samuel Alex Weprin, John Noel, Daniel D. Eun