Patents by Inventor George Brock-Fisher
George Brock-Fisher 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).
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Publication number: 20100049043Abstract: A compact, portable ultra sound system is capable of docking with a larger, traditional cart-based ultrasound system. The docking can include a physical and an electrical connectivity between the compact portable ultrasound system and the larger traditional cart-based ultrasound system. The compact system is thus able to use the peripherals ofthe larger system and this provides for a more cost effective use of the larger system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 7625341Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contrast imaging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for contrast imaging in which the elevation beamwidth is controlled to reduce image artifacts, which result from contrast agent being carried into the image region by motion or respiration and not by reperfusion.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: George A Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20090124908Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging of microbubbles of a contrast agent in arterioles while all microbubbles of the contrast agent have been eliminated in the capillaries of a patient and tissue signal response to ultrasound imaging is suppressed. This method and apparatus permits ultrasound imaging for detecting coronary artery disease without the need for a stress test.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2006Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.Inventors: Patrick G. Rafter, George A. Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20080219526Abstract: A three-dimensional visualization technique for easily identifying common morphological landmarks in volume rendered ultrasound perfusion images. The technique includes processing acoustic data received by an ultrasound imaging system (100) according to at least two different signal processing methods. One of these methods is perfusion-specific, while another of these methods is tissue-specific. Each of these methods provides separately processed volume images. A volume rendering step (14, 16) assigns different volume rendering characteristics to each of the volume images according to whether the volume images are based on perfusion- or tissue-specific acoustic data. The at least two volume images can also be differentiated in the volume rendering step by assigning each volume image a specific color. The volume images are finally combined (18) and displayed (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2006Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.Inventor: George A. Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 7367947Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contrast imaging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for contrast imaging in which the elevation beamwidth is controlled to reduce image artifacts, which result from contrast agent being carried into the image region by motion or respiration and not by reperfusion.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2002Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: George A Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20060284732Abstract: A mobile phone (108) is configured as an adjunct to a medical monitoring device (100) to make an emergency phone call (228) to a predetermined, trusted care-giver or -overseer (120) when an abnormal medical condition is detected by the device (204). The phone and the device preferably communicate wirelessly with each other, as through a Bluetooth connection (212). Preferably, the phone is equipped to play back a pre-recorded voice message on the phone call (236), which may include the current location of the patient (216, 220), instructions personalized to the care-giver (168), and an image or video playback of the patient. The phone may concurrently page emergency medical services.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2004Publication date: December 21, 2006Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 6997875Abstract: The method of the invention controls an ultrasound system to identify a boundary between a tissue region and a blood-filled region that lies within an ROI. The method initially administers a contrast agent to the region of interest and then transmits first and second ultrasound beams at a different power levels into the ROI. Signal returns from the first and second beams are processed to derive first and second digital values, respectively. It has been determined that, under certain circumstances, a phase change of echo returns occurs at the boundary between tissue and blood-containing contrast agent. Detection of the phase change enables precise identification of the boundary, based upon the time segment in which the phase change is detected. Accordingly, time segment values of the first and second stored digital values are then phase-compared to enable determination of a boundary location between the tissue region and the blood-filled region by detection of the phase change.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2002Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: George A Brock-Fisher, David M Prater
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Patent number: 6969353Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced color-flow imaging of contrast-agent perfused blood vessels and other tissues within a patient's body are disclosed. The method generally comprises, introducing one or more contrast agents into the body, power-modulating transmit pulses into the body, receiving echoes from the body, processing the received echoes to reduce tissue-generated echoes and echoes from stationary contrast agent, using a color-flow processor to generate a color-encoded display responsive to contrast-agent motion. The method may be implemented by a system with a an excitation-signal source, a transducer, an ultrasound-processing system having multiple image processors including a color-flow processor, as well as, a clutter filter, and an arbiter, and a display-processing system.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.Inventors: George A. Brock-Fisher, Jodi L.T. Perry, Patrick G. Rafter, McKee Dunn Poland
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Publication number: 20050234340Abstract: The present invention relates to contrast imaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for ultrasound contrast imaging in which a high-MI signal destroys contrast agent in a blood supply region of the heart after previously infused thoroughly with contrast agent enhanced blood, and a portion of the heart other than the blood supply region is imaged with low MI ultrasound to track the decrease in contrast agent containing blood due to perfusion into the “other then the blood supply region” by blood from the blood supply region, as a function of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2005Publication date: October 20, 2005Inventors: George Brock-Fisher, Janice Frisa, McKee Poland
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Publication number: 20050203408Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contrast imaging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for contrast imaging in which the elevation beamwidth is controlled to reduce image artifacts, which result from contrast agent being carried into the image region by motion or respiration and not by reperfusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2005Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20050148874Abstract: The present invention combines the benefits of aberration correction with the benefits of microbeamforming in an ultrasound diagnostic imaging system, such that both partial beamforming (in the microbeamformer) and at least some part of the phase aberration detection correction processes are accomplished in the transducer probe proximate the transducer array. Accordingly, aberration correction applied at or proximate the microbeamformer in the transducer probe results in a significant simplification of the overall aberration correction technique for the entire ultrasound diagnostic imaging system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2004Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: George Brock-Fisher, Bernard Savord
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Publication number: 20050086081Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for an electronic system for the prescribing and dispensing of drug prescriptions that is email-like system or specifically utilizes email and/or the Internet for a prescription/refill/renew entry application running on a computer system at a prescriber's office, a clearinghouse computer system that is responsible for authenticating requests as having come from a certified, licensed, or otherwise qualified source, and redirecting the prescriptions electronically to a drug provider or to a provider chosen by one the clearinghouse system, prescriber, and patient. The system provides optional authorization for drug prescriptions by an insurer, if the patient has prescription drug coverage. Further, all transmissions are encrypted to preclude unauthorized access and access is further controlled to ensure patient privacy.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20050068221Abstract: A receive beamformer, and ultrasound system incorporating such a receive beamformer, is constructed to implement multi-bit analog to digital conversion in such a way that the need for gain control in the channel architecture preceding the digital conversion circuitry is obviated. Accordingly, the beamformer and any ultrasound system incorporating it may realize a rigorous level of ADC performance at desirable output rates, and a lower cost. Preferably, the invention construction realizes a level of performance by which CW Doppler may be digitized in the same manner as very wide-band pulsed-wave signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2004Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: Steven Freeman, Gary Schwartz, Raf Roovers, Lucien Breems, George Brock-Fisher, Theodore Fazioli
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Publication number: 20040092817Abstract: The present disclosure relates to contrast imaging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for contrast imaging in which the elevation beamwidth is controlled to reduce image artifacts, which result from contrast agent being carried into the image region by motion or respiration and not by reperfusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventor: George A. Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 6730036Abstract: Ultrasonic imaging to receive a signal from contrast agent microbubbles in arterioles of a myocardium, without being masked by a signal from microbubbles in capillaries of the myocardium. For example, high power ultrasonic energy is emitted to destroy microbubbles in the arterioles and capillaries. A time delay passes from the destruction. The time delay is sufficiently long to allow the arterioles to refill with microbubbles and sufficiently short so that the capillaries do not completely refill with microbubbles. Ultrasonic imaging is then performed to receive a signal between harmonics from the microbubbles refilled in the arterioles. Various other destructive and non-destructive imaging techniques are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V., University of VirginiaInventors: Patrick G. Rafter, Jerome F. Witt, Sanjiv Kaul, Kevin Wei, George A. Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 6716171Abstract: A beamformer for an ultrasound imaging system is provided, the ultrasound imaging system having a probe having a transducer array for transmitting and receiving analog signals, and a personal computer. The beamformer includes a beamformer software application module configured for execution by the computing device for performing at least partial beamforming processing on digital data transmitted between the transducer array and the computing device, and means for exchanging signals and data between the transducer array and the computing device and performing at least one of A/D and D/A conversions on the exchanged signals and data. In the preferred embodiment, the beamformer further includes a module integrated within architecture of the computing device, wherein the integrated module is preferably Random Access Memory (RAM) included in storage means of the computing device.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Publication number: 20040064044Abstract: A beamformer for an ultrasound imaging system is provided, the ultrasound imaging system having a probe having a transducer array for transmitting and receiving analog signals, and a personal computer. The beamformer includes a beamformer software application module configured for execution by the computing device for performing at least partial beamforming processing on digital data transmitted between the transducer array and the computing device, and means for exchanging signals and data between the transducer array and the computing device and performing at least one of A/D and D/A conversions on the exchanged signals and data. In the preferred embodiment, the beamformer further includes a module integrated within architecture of the computing device, wherein the integrated module is preferably Random Access Memory (RAM) included in storage means of the computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventor: George Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 6699191Abstract: An ultrasound device having a transducer propagating and receiving sound signals to/from a blood vessel of a person being examined for caisson's disease where the blood vessel is at above normal surface atmospheric pressure and a controller determining onset of the caisson's disease by analyzing the received sound signals from the transducer to determine presence of naturally occurring bubbles in the blood vessel during decompression of the blood vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventor: George A. Brock-Fisher
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Patent number: 6692442Abstract: The present invention relates to a] A device for producing an image of a body part into which a contrasting agent has been introduced, the device including an image detecting device modifying the contrasting agent to provide a modified image, and a processor acquiring and processing the modified image so as to create an image which represents a rate of flow of blood or other fluid in the body part. The device may be an ultrasound imaging device or may be a magnetic resonance imaging device.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: George Brock-Fisher, Patrick G. Rafter
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Publication number: 20040030253Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced color-flow imaging of contrast-agent perfused blood vessels and other tissues within a patient's body are disclosed. The method generally comprises, introducing one or more contrast agents into the body, power-modulating transmit pulses into the body, receiving echoes from the body, processing the received echoes to reduce tissue-generated echoes and echoes from stationary contrast agent, using a color-flow processor to generate a color-encoded display responsive to contrast-agent motion. The method may be implemented by a system with a an excitation-signal source, a transducer, an ultrasound-processing system having multiple image processors including a color-flow processor, as well as, a clutter filter, and an arbiter, and a display-processing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: George A. Brock-Fisher, Jodi L.T. Perry, Patrick G. Rafter, McKee Dunn Poland