Patents by Inventor Francesco P. Curra

Francesco P. Curra 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: 20220032089
    Abstract: Presented herein is ultrasound visualization and associated systems and methods. In one embodiment, a method for an ultrasound imaging, includes: transmitting an imaging ultrasound toward a target tissue; receiving ultrasound echoes of the imaging ultrasound using a first set of receiving beamformer parameters; composing a first two-dimensional (2D) B-mode image of the target tissue based on received ultrasound echoes of the imaging ultrasound; transmitting a therapy ultrasound toward a target tissue by a therapy transducer using a second set of transmitting beamformer parameters; receiving ultrasound echoes of the therapy ultrasound using the first set of receiving beamformer parameters; composing a second 2D B-mode image of the target tissue based on received ultrasound echoes of the therapy ultrasound; and comparing the first 2D B-mode image of the target tissue with the second 2D B-mode image of the target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: CEREVAST MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Francesco P. Curra
  • Patent number: 10713758
    Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: John Kucewicz, Francesco P. Curra, Gregory P. Darlington, Lee D. Dunbar, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Justin Reed
  • Publication number: 20150005634
    Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods for real-time noninvasive spatial temperature estimation are disclosed herein. A method for noninvasive temperature estimation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, propagating ultrasound waves into tissue and detecting echoes of the ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves can become nonlinear as they propagate into the tissue. The method can further include monitoring changes in tissue temperature in real-time using a spectral-based temperature estimation approach, which correlates nonlinear acoustic effects with changes in tissue temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Francesco P. Curra, Neil R. Owen
  • Patent number: 8900145
    Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods for real-time noninvasive spatial temperature estimation are disclosed herein. A method for noninvasive temperature estimation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, propagating ultrasound waves into tissue and detecting echoes of the ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves can become nonlinear as they propagate into the tissue. The method can further include monitoring changes in tissue temperature in real-time using a spectral-based temperature estimation approach, which correlates nonlinear acoustic effects with changes in tissue temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Francesco P. Curra, Neil R. Owen
  • Publication number: 20130204135
    Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to filtering systems and methods for suppression of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images. In some embodiments, a method of obtaining a filtered ultrasound image includes taking a first ultrasound image of a target tissue using an applicator. At least a portion of the applicator is moved such that the reverberation artifact ultrasound path length changes relative to the first position of the applicator. A second ultrasound image of the target tissue is then taken. The first and second ultrasound images are synthesized using at least one filtering method. The filtering method attenuates or removes reverberation artifacts in the synthesized ultrasound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: John Kucewicz, Francesco P. Curra, Gregory P. Darlington, Lee D. Dunbar, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Justin Reed
  • Patent number: 8500643
    Abstract: Multilayer ultrasound transducer devices for high power transmission and wide-band reception and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transducer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a first array of first transducers and a second array of second transducers that are oriented substantially parallel to one another. The first transducers can include a first piezoelectric material that is configured to transmit acoustic waves, and the second transducers can include a second piezoelectric material that is configured to receive echoes from the acoustic waves. The ultrasound transducer device can further include an electrical connection layer between the first and second arrays that is electrically coupled to the first and second transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Francesco P. Curra, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Neil R. Owen
  • Publication number: 20120232388
    Abstract: Ultrasound systems and methods for real-time noninvasive spatial temperature estimation are disclosed herein. A method for noninvasive temperature estimation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, propagating ultrasound waves into tissue and detecting echoes of the ultrasound waves. The ultrasound waves can become nonlinear as they propagate into the tissue. The method can further include monitoring changes in tissue temperature in real-time using a spectral-based temperature estimation approach, which correlates nonlinear acoustic effects with changes in tissue temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Francesco P. Curra, Neil R. Owen
  • Publication number: 20120172721
    Abstract: Multilayer ultrasound transducer devices for high power transmission and wide-band reception and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transducer device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a first array of first transducers and a second array of second transducers that are oriented substantially parallel to one another. The first transducers can include a first piezoelectric material that is configured to transmit acoustic waves, and the second transducers can include a second piezoelectric material that is configured to receive echoes from the acoustic waves. The ultrasound transducer device can further include an electrical connection layer between the first and second arrays that is electrically coupled to the first and second transducers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Francesco P. Curra, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Neil R. Owen