Patents by Inventor Albert Gee

Albert Gee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12025754
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing ultrasound imaging. Channel domain data can be received from an ultrasound transducer to form one or more channel domain data sets. A first ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a first subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. A second ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a second subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. Image characteristics of the first subset of one or more images and the second subset of one or more images can be regionally analyzed to identify regional image characteristics of the first and second subsets of one or more images. The first subset of one or more images can be blended with the second subset of one or more images based on the regional image characteristics to generate one or more composite images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee, David J. Napolitano
  • Patent number: 11874405
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a hybrid transmitter in an ultrasound system. A system can include a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves toward a subject area. The hybrid transmitter can comprise a linear transmitter configured to generate linear transmitter output and a switching transmitter configured to generate switching transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter can also comprise a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switching transmitter output to generate hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to generate the ultrasound waves transmitted towards the subject area. The ultrasound system can also comprise a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the subject area in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject area for generating ultrasound images of the subject area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert Gee, Glen W. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 11796658
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20230240662
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing diagnostic sonography. Ultrasound information of a subject region can be collected. The ultrasound information can be based on one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses transmitted toward the subject region and backscatter of the subject region from the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses. One or more corresponding harmonic responses and a corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses can be separated from the ultrasound information. Further, one or more non-linear properties of the subject region can be identified based on either or both of the one or more corresponding harmonic responses and the corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20230204743
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 11638574
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing diagnostic sonography. Ultrasound information of a subject region can be collected. The ultrasound information can be based on one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses transmitted toward the subject region and backscatter of the subject region from the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses. One or more corresponding harmonic responses and a corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses can be separated from the ultrasound information. Further, one or more non-linear properties of the subject region can be identified based on either or both of the one or more corresponding harmonic responses and the corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 11619728
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 11559287
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an ultrasound system. In various embodiments, a system is configured to receive echo data corresponding to a detection of an echo of a pulse signal, generate a set of transformations based on the echo data, and generate a set of point estimates for a frequency dependent filtering coefficient of a spectral response. The system is further configured to extract a set of attenuation coefficients based on the set of point estimates for the frequency dependent filtering coefficient and generate image data for the material of interest based on the set of attenuation coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20220326365
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a hybrid transmitter in an ultrasound system. A system can include a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves toward a subject area. The hybrid transmitter can comprise a linear transmitter configured to generate linear transmitter output and a switching transmitter configured to generate switching transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter can also comprise a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switching transmitter output to generate hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to generate the ultrasound waves transmitted towards the subject area. The ultrasound system can also comprise a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the subject area in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject area for generating ultrasound images of the subject area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Albert Gee, Glen W. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 11372092
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a hybrid transmitter in an ultrasound system. A system can include a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves toward a subject area. The hybrid transmitter can comprise a linear transmitter configured to generate linear transmitter output and a switching transmitter configured to generate switching transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter can also comprise a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switching transmitter output to generate hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to generate the ultrasound waves transmitted towards the subject area. The ultrasound system can also comprise a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the subject area in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject area for generating ultrasound images of the subject area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Albert Gee, Glen W. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20220187433
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Patent number: 11275159
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20220043131
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing ultrasound imaging. Channel domain data can be received from an ultrasound transducer to form one or more channel domain data sets. A first ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a first subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. A second ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a second subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. Image characteristics of the first subset of one or more images and the second subset of one or more images can be regionally analyzed to identify regional image characteristics of the first and second subsets of one or more images. The first subset of one or more images can be blended with the second subset of one or more images based on the regional image characteristics to generate one or more composite images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee, David J. Napolitano
  • Patent number: 11125867
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing ultrasound imaging. Channel domain data can be received from an ultrasound transducer to form one or more channel domain data sets. A first ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a first subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. A second ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a second subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. Image characteristics of the first subset of one or more images and the second subset of one or more images can be regionally analyzed to identify regional image characteristics of the first and second subsets of one or more images. The first subset of one or more images can be blended with the second subset of one or more images based on the regional image characteristics to generate one or more composite images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee, David J. Napolitano
  • Patent number: 11103221
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method includes activating a transmit aperture within a multi-element transducer array, transmitting one or more ultrasonic beams along scan direction(s) that span the region of interest, for each transmit event, receiving ultrasound echoes from each element of a receive aperture, grouping the receive channel echo data into two or more sets corresponding to different receive sub-apertures, combining each sub-aperture data set to generate partially focused echo-location data for one or more reconstruction lines, and storing all the sub-aperture echo data sets during a storage period in a format that can be retrieved for later analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry Y. L. Mo, Glen W. McLaughlin, Brian Derek DeBusschere, Ting-Lan Ji, Albert Gee, David J. Napolitano, Ching-Hua Chou, Robert W. Steins
  • Publication number: 20210077074
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing diagnostic sonography. Ultrasound information of a subject region can be collected. The ultrasound information can be based on one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses transmitted toward the subject region and backscatter of the subject region from the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses. One or more corresponding harmonic responses and a corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses can be separated from the ultrasound information. Further, one or more non-linear properties of the subject region can be identified based on either or both of the one or more corresponding harmonic responses and the corresponding fundamental response for each of the one or more exponentially swept ultrasound chirp pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20200217939
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing a hybrid transmitter in an ultrasound system. A system can include a hybrid transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound waves toward a subject area. The hybrid transmitter can comprise a linear transmitter configured to generate linear transmitter output and a switching transmitter configured to generate switching transmitter output. The hybrid transmitter can also comprise a summer configured to sum the linear transmitter output and the switching transmitter output to generate hybrid transmitter output for driving a transducer load to generate the ultrasound waves transmitted towards the subject area. The ultrasound system can also comprise a receiver configured to receive one or more ultrasound waves from the subject area in response to the ultrasound waves transmitted toward the subject area for generating ultrasound images of the subject area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Albert Gee, Glen W. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20200214666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuation measuring using ultrasound. In various embodiments, echo data corresponding to a detection of echoes of one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into tissue are received. The echoes can be received from a range of depths of the tissue. Spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue are obtained using the echo data. Attenuation characteristics of the tissue across the range of depths of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements across the range of depths of the tissue. Specifically, the attenuation characteristics of the tissue can be estimated using the spectral measurements and known spectral characteristics of the one or more ultrasound signals transmitted into the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee
  • Publication number: 20200116844
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing ultrasound imaging. Channel domain data can be received from an ultrasound transducer to form one or more channel domain data sets. A first ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a first subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. A second ultrasound processing operation can be applied to the channel domain data to generate a second subset of one or more images from the one or more channel domain data sets. Image characteristics of the first subset of one or more images and the second subset of one or more images can be regionally analyzed to identify regional image characteristics of the first and second subsets of one or more images. The first subset of one or more images can be blended with the second subset of one or more images based on the regional image characteristics to generate one or more composite images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee, David J. Napolitano
  • Publication number: 20200113549
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an ultrasound system. In various embodiments, a system is configured to receive echo data corresponding to a detection of an echo of a pulse signal, generate a set of transformations based on the echo data, and generate a set of point estimates for a frequency dependent filtering coefficient of a spectral response. The system is further configured to extract a set of attenuation coefficients based on the set of point estimates for the frequency dependent filtering coefficient and generate image data for the material of interest based on the set of attenuation coefficients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Glen W. McLaughlin, Albert Gee