Patents by Inventor Charles Tak-Ming Choi

Charles Tak-Ming Choi 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).

  • Publication number: 20240009455
    Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation (IES) system and a method thereof, is disclosed. The implantable electrical stimulation (IES) system may comprise an implantable electrode array having a plurality of electrode contacts, an electrical stimulus means, a sensor and a processing circuitry. The electrical stimulus means may be configured for applying the electrical stimulus to at least one stimulating electrode contact of the implantable electrode array. The sensor may be configured for sensing and determining a measured ECAP of the at least one stimulating electrode to generate data for determining a plurality of parameters for the at least one stimulating electrode of the implantable electrode array. The processing circuitry may be configured for processing the measured ECAP and plurality of parameters of the at least one stimulating electrode of the implantable electrode array to compute the corresponding parameters for the remaining electrode contacts of the implantable electrode array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Charles Tak Ming Choi
  • Publication number: 20230146192
    Abstract: A method for image postprocessing includes steps as follows. A first reconstructed image is generated through a solving method according to the measuring data. The measuring data is measured by an image capturing device, and the image capturing device is selected from a group consisting of a magnetic induction tomography (MIT) device, a magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI) device, a magneto-acoustic-electrical tomography device, a ultrasound device, a positron emission tomography (PET) device, a computed tomography (CT) device, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a microwave tomography device, a pressure tomography device, an optical coherence tomography device, a doppler ultrasonography device, a mammogram device and, an imaging photoplethysmogram (PPG) device, or the like. Then, the first reconstructed image is post-processed through a neural network algorithm to generate a second reconstructed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventor: Charles Tak Ming CHOI
  • Patent number: 10422761
    Abstract: A three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic method is disclosed. The three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic method includes steps of disposing an implantation body, wherein an electrode array formed by a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the implantation body; disposing an electrode controller to control any electrode in the electrode array; generating more independent voltage data measured on the plurality of electrodes on the same curve surface by combining current control technology or virtual electrode technology; and performing a calculation to convert the plurality of horizontal or vertical voltage data into a three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Charles Tak Ming Choi
  • Patent number: 10154796
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). More specifically, the present disclosure forms virtual electrode(s) using an electric current steering technique, which is used to improve imaging resolution of an EIT system without physically increasing a number of conducting electrodes. The EIT system of the present disclosure may includes a plurality of conducting electrodes, at least one signal generator, at least one signal receiver and at least one electric current steering device. In other words, the present disclosure applies both the electric current steering technique and the virtual electrode technique to EIT. Consequently, imaging resolution of EIT can be improved without physically increasing the number of conducting electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Shu-Hai Sun
  • Patent number: 10092212
    Abstract: A post processing system for electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images includes a processing device and a post processing device, and the post processing device is coupled to the processing device. The processing device is configured to generate a first EIT image through a solving method based on the measuring data. The measuring data is measured by an electrical impedance tomography instrument. The post processing device is configured to receive the first EIT image and post-process the first EIT image through a neural network algorithm to generate a second EIT image. The neural network algorithm is a feed forward neural network, a recurrent neural network, a convolutional neural network or a deep neural network, and an accuracy of the second electrical impedance tomography image is higher than an accuracy of the first electrical impedance tomography image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Charles Tak-Ming Choi
  • Publication number: 20180220922
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). More specifically, the present disclosure forms virtual electrode(s) using an electric current steering technique, which is used to improve imaging resolution of an EIT system without physically increasing a number of conducting electrodes. The EIT system of the present disclosure may includes a plurality of conducting electrodes, at least one signal generator, at least one signal receiver and at least one electric current steering device. In other words, the present disclosure applies both the electric current steering technique and the virtual electrode technique to EIT. Consequently, imaging resolution of EIT can be improved without physically increasing the number of conducting electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Shu-Hai Sun
  • Patent number: 9962105
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). More specifically, the present disclosure forms virtual electrode(s) using an electric current steering technique, which is used to improve imaging resolution of an EIT system without physically increasing a number of conducting electrodes. The EIT system of the present disclosure may includes a plurality of conducting electrodes, at least one signal generator, at least one signal receiver and at least one electric current steering device. In other words, the present disclosure applies both the electric current steering technique and the virtual electrode technique to EIT. Consequently, imaging resolution of EIT can be improved without physically increasing the number of conducting electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Shu-Hai Sun
  • Publication number: 20180014748
    Abstract: A post processing system for electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images includes a processing device and a post processing device, and the post processing device is coupled to the processing device. The processing device is configured to generate a first EIT image through a solving method based on the measuring data. The measuring data is measured by an electrical impedance tomography instrument. The post processing device is configured to receive the first EIT image and post-process the first EIT image through a neural network algorithm to generate a second EIT image. The neural network algorithm is a feed forward neural network, a recurrent neural network, a convolutional neural network or a deep neural network, and an accuracy of the second electrical impedance tomography image is higher than an accuracy of the first electrical impedance tomography image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Charles Tak-Ming CHOI
  • Publication number: 20160341684
    Abstract: A three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic method is disclosed. The three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic method includes steps of disposing an implantation body, wherein an electrode array formed by a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the implantation body; disposing an electrode controller to control any electrode in the electrode array; generating more independent voltage data measured on the plurality of electrodes on the same curve surface by combining current control technology or virtual electrode technology; and performing a calculation to convert the plurality of horizontal or vertical voltage data into a three dimensional electrical impedance tomographic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: CHARLES TAK MING CHOI
  • Patent number: 9314202
    Abstract: A method for analyzing nerve fibers distribution is provided, including inputting a stimulation signal into a nerve tissue through at least two sensing and conducting electrodes, applying a stimulation signal ratio to control the stimulation signal using an electric current steering technique to electrically stimulate a plurality of nerve fibers within a plurality of stimulations areas of the nerve tissue; receiving a plurality of evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) using at least two sensing and conducting electrodes due to the nerve fibers electrically stimulated and computing a distance between the nerve fiber and the conducting electrodes including eliminating non-ideal effect caused by an electric potential attenuation factor, wherein the electric potential attenuation factor is a function of the distance between each of the conducting electrodes and the nerve tissue; and integrating and comparing the received ECAPs and analyzing the nerve fibers distribution of the nerve tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventor: Charles Tak Ming Choi
  • Patent number: 9173588
    Abstract: A method for identifying a stimulation target is provided, which uses microelectrode recording and electrical impedance tomography techniques together in a composite probe. The composite probe includes at least a microelectrode recording sensor and a plurality of microelectrodes, so that after the composite probe is guided and implanted to a depth suitable for the stimulation target based on microelectrode recording signals, tissue structures surrounding the composite probe are delineated by using the plurality of microelectrodes, and the boundary of the stimulation target and the precise location of the composite probe within the stimulation target are determined. Accordingly, the present invention provides a quick and accurate direction for surgeons, eliminating the problem of not knowing the exact location of the implanted probe within the stimulation target as in the case during deep brain stimulation surgeries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Shu-Hai Sun, Yi-Hsuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20140066803
    Abstract: A method for analyzing nerve fibers distribution is provided, including inputting a stimulation signal into a nerve tissue through at least two sensing and conducting electrodes, applying a stimulation signal ratio to control the stimulation signal using an electric current steering technique to electrically stimulate a plurality of nerve fibers within a plurality of stimulations areas of the nerve tissue; receiving a plurality of evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) using at least two sensing and conducting electrodes due to the nerve fibers electrically stimulated and computing a distance between the nerve fiber and the conducting electrodes including eliminating non-ideal effect caused by an electric potential attenuation factor, wherein the electric potential attenuation factor is a function of the distance between each of the conducting electrodes and the nerve tissue; and integrating and comparing the received ECAPs and analyzing the nerve fibers distribution of the nerve tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventor: Charles Tak Ming Choi
  • Patent number: 8666503
    Abstract: A parameter adjustment device and method thereof for a stimulator is disclosed. The parameter adjustment device comprises a generation unit, a user interface and a process unit. The generation unit generates a test MAP based on a current MAP. The user interface displays the current MAP and the test MAP for choosing one of them as the preferred MAP, and displays a major and a minor for choosing again, the major and the minor is defined as a significant difference and a little difference between the test MAP and the current MAP respectively. The process unit computes the acceptance probability of the preferred MAP based on a major or minor probability correspondence relationship and determines a next MAP by comparing the acceptance probability with the test probability. When one of the termination conditions is satisfied in an iterative operation, the next MAP is outputted as the best MAP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Yi-Hsuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8521298
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical stimulation method and apparatus to stimulate nerve fibers, turning on suitable combination of adjacent electrodes simultaneously to form virtual channels based on predetermined rules, so that the stimulation signal will generate or evoke a nerve response spectrum that matches the original signal spectrum presented as the input sound. The method includes the steps of receiving a sound signal by a receiving unit; dividing the received sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands by a processing unit; extracting a spectral peak from each of the frequency bands and determining a stimulation sequence of frequency bands by the processing unit; and selectively driving a plurality of electrode groups in a plurality of cycles based on the stimulation sequence of frequency bands and a determination rule by the processing unit, so that the nerve response that matches the original signal will be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak-Ming Choi, Yi-Hsuan Lee
  • Patent number: 8391509
    Abstract: This present invention discloses an audio-separating apparatus and operation method thereof. The audio-separating apparatus applies both blind source separation and noise reduction mechanisms. The audio-separating apparatus only uses one microphone to record mixed sound signals. After applying the noise reduction mechanism, noise reduced signals and the mixed sound signals are used as the inputs of the blind source separation. The method may avoid the spatial aliasing effect caused by using a microphone array to record the mixed sound signals. Besides, speech segment losses caused by processing the noise reduction will be effectively recovered, which may help the hearing impaired recognize target speech signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Yi-Hsuan Lee, Charles Tak-Ming Choi
  • Patent number: 8340758
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an electrical stimulation system to increase the resolution of the stimulation region with multiple independent power source electrodes is proposed. In the apparatus, the electrode set contains at least three electrodes of which two adjacent electrodes are of the same power polarity to control the location of the composite stimulation signal and the others are of an inverse power polarity to balance the total power polarity and narrow the stimulation region. The method for the apparatus comprises steps of: receiving a target stimulation location and level, generating at least one parameter to adjust power settings of the electrodes, thereby obtaining a composite stimulation signal corresponding to a virtual channel of which a location and level match the target stimulation location and level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Chien Hua Hsu
  • Patent number: 8311642
    Abstract: An adjustable implant electrode system comprises an adjustable implant electrode assembly and an adjustment device for adjusting the adjustable implant electrode assembly to a desired position. The adjustable implant electrode assembly comprises an implant, a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of magnetic components. The electrodes are disposed in the implant for providing stimulating currents according to a control signal. The magnetic components are combined with the electrodes in one-to-one correspondence. The adjustment device comprises a control unit, an excitation unit, and one or more magnetic units. The control unit is used to select one or more magnetic components to be moved from the magnetic components, and the excitation unit is used to excite the selected one or more magnetic components for the same to generate a magnetic pole, and the magnetic unit is adapted to generate a magnetic field to drive the magnetic pole and accordingly move the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Charles Tak-Ming Choi, Chien-Hua Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120116741
    Abstract: A system and a method of constructing a personalized or patient specific neural stimulation model. The method includes measuring an electro-physiology signal of an individual and establishing a personalized or patient specific neural stimulation model that has a preset model parameter and generates a human physiology parameter according to the model parameters; and analyzing the human physiology parameters and regulating the model parameters according to a parameter-optimizing algorithm, such that the human physiology parameters outputted by the personalized or patient specific neural stimulation model matches the measured electro-physiology signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charles Tak Ming Choi, Yi-Hsuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20110230933
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical stimulation method and apparatus to stimulate nerve fibers, turning on suitable combination of adjacent electrodes simultaneously to form virtual channels based on predetermined rules, so that the stimulation signal will generate or evoke a nerve response spectrum that matches the original signal spectrum presented as the input sound. The method includes the steps of receiving a sound signal by a receiving unit; dividing the received sound signal into a plurality of frequency bands by a processing unit; extracting a spectral peak from each of the frequency bands and determining a stimulation sequence of frequency bands by the processing unit; and selectively driving a plurality of electrode groups in a plurality of cycles based on the stimulation sequence of frequency bands and a determination rule by the processing unit, so that the nerve response that matches the original signal will be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: CHARLES TAK-MING CHOI, Yi-Hsuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20110026736
    Abstract: This present invention discloses an audio-separating apparatus and operation method thereof. The audio-separating apparatus applies both blind source separation and noise reduction mechanisms. The audio-separating apparatus only uses one microphone to record mixed sound signals. After applying the noise reduction mechanism, noise reduced signals and the mixed sound signals are used as the inputs of the blind source separation. The method may avoid the spatial aliasing effect caused by using a microphone array to record the mixed sound signals. Besides, speech segment losses caused by processing the noise reduction will be effectively recovered, which may help the hearing impaired recognize target speech signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Hsuan Lee, Charles Tak-Ming Choi