Patents by Inventor James Zagzebski
James Zagzebski 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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Patent number: 8111810Abstract: A highly constrained image processing method is used to improve the quality, including spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), of ultrasound image frames. Ultrasound image frames are accumulated to form a composite image that contains a priori information about the subject being imaged. This composite image is used in a HYPR processing method to improve the quality of the ultrasound image frame. For example, the SNR of the composite image is increased as a function of the number of ultrasound image frames used to produce it, and this increased SNR is passed on to each highly constrained image frame. Additionally, high spatial resolution ultrasound images are produced using an undersampled sampling density, and the quality of these images is restored to substantially the same level as a fully sampled image.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: James A. Zagzebski, Charles A. Mistretta
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Patent number: 7601122Abstract: Ultrasonic strain measurements, which characterize the structure of tissue, may be obtained by combining multiple echo signals acquired at different compressions and at different angles. Such angular compounding may improve the quality of the elastic signal and provide at one time both an axial and lateral strain measurement.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: James A. Zagzebski, Tomy Varghese
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Publication number: 20090129651Abstract: A highly constrained image processing method is used to improve the quality, including spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), of ultrasound image frames. Ultrasound image frames are accumulated to form a composite image that contains a priori information about the subject being imaged. This composite image is used in a HYPR processing method to improve the quality of the ultrasound image frame. For example, the SNR of the composite image is increased as a function of the number of ultrasound image frames used to produce it, and this increased SNR is passed on to each highly constrained image frame. Additionally, high spatial resolution ultrasound images are produced using an undersampled sampling density, and the quality of these images is restored to substantially the same level as a fully sampled image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: James A. Zagzebski, Charles A. Mistretta
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Patent number: 7331926Abstract: Ultrasonic signals obtained at a range of angles are fit to a material independent model to derive both axial and lateral strain and thus parameters dependent on lateral strain including Poisson's ratio and shear strain.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tomy Varghese, Udomchai Techavipoo, Quan Chen, James A. Zagzebski
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Patent number: 7297116Abstract: Elastography is used to examine soft tissue of the uterus to detect tumors and to evaluate the strength of the cervix of the uterus based on its elastographic properties.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tomy Varghese, Mark Alan Kliewer, James A. Zagzebski
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Patent number: 7275439Abstract: Parametric ultrasonic measurements which characterize the structure of tissue, using information from an ultrasonic signal beyond amplitude information, are obtained by combining multiple ultrasonic signals acquired at different angles, thereby reducing the variance of the calculations. Such angular compounding may be applied to detecting scatterer size, spacing, density, and attenuation.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2004Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: James A. Zagzebski, Tomy Varghese, Anthony L. Gerig
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Patent number: 7166075Abstract: Elastographic images provide visualization in two or three dimensions of RF ablation lesions to guide in the ablation process. Compression may be applied using the RF probe. A similar technique may be applied to in vivo imaging of soft tissue without ablation.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tomy Varghese, James A. Zagzebski, Udomchai Techavipoo, Quan Chen
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Publication number: 20050165309Abstract: Ultrasonic signals obtained at a range of angles are fit to a material independent model to derive both axial and lateral strain and thus parameters dependent on lateral strain including Poisson's ratio and shear strain.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Inventors: Tomy Varghese, Udomchai Techavipoo, Quan Chen, James Zagzebski
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Publication number: 20040243001Abstract: Parametric ultrasonic measurements which characterize the structure of tissue, using information from an ultrasonic signal beyond amplitude information, are obtained by combining multiple ultrasonic signals acquired at different angles, thereby reducing the variance of the calculations. Such angular compounding may be applied to detecting scatterer size, spacing, density, and attenuation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: James A. Zagzebski, Tomy Varghese, Anthony L. Gerig
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Publication number: 20040215075Abstract: Ultrasonic strain measurements, which characterize the structure of tissue, may be obtained by combining multiple echo signals acquired at different compressions and at different angles. Such angular compounding may improve the quality of the elastic signal and provide at one time both an axial and lateral strain measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: James A. Zagzebski, Tomy Varghese
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Publication number: 20040210136Abstract: Elastography is used to examine soft tissue of the uterus to detect tumors and to evaluate the strength of the cervix of the uterus based on its elastographic properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Tomy Varghese, Mark Alan Kliewer, James A. Zagzebski
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Patent number: 6749571Abstract: Elastographic imaging of heart tissue may be used to provide strain images by mapping strain magnitude to brightness and strain sign to hue and thus provide improved clinical indication of compression and distension of heart muscle. An areal cursor may be used to obtain quantitative measurements of strain at predetermined periods in the heart cycle. Multiple area measurements of strain may be combined to provide a quantitative index of cardiac health.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tomy Varghese, Christian S. Breburda, James A. Zagzebski, Peter Samuel Rahko
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Publication number: 20040059224Abstract: Elastographic imaging of heart tissue may be used to provide strain images by mapping strain magnitude to brightness and strain sign to hue and thus provide improved clinical indication of compression and distension of heart muscle. An areal cursor may be used to obtain quantitative measurements of strain at predetermined periods in the heart cycle. Multiple area measurements of strain may be combined to provide a quantitative index of cardiac health.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2002Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Tomy Varghese, Christian S. Breburda, James A. Zagzebski, Peter Samuel Rahko
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Publication number: 20030171672Abstract: Elastographic images provide visualization in two or three dimensions of RF ablation lesions to guide in the ablation process. Compression may be applied using the RF probe. A similar technique may be applied to in vivo imaging of soft tissue without ablation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Tomy Varghese, James A. Zagzebski, Udomchai Techavipoo, Quan Chen
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Patent number: 5670719Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is presented an automated system for testing the ability of clinical ultrasound scanners to detect focal lesions in human tissue. An ultrasound scanner phantom containing background material mimicking the ultrasonic characteristics of human tissue and coplanar spherical target lesions ultrasonically contrasting with the background material is scanned using the ultrasound scanner to be tested. Digitized images are made of the ultrasound scan of slices in the ultrasound phantom containing background material only and of slices on which the focal lesions are centered. A lesion signal to noise ratio (SNR).sub.L is then calculated at each defined pixel coordinate in the target lesion slice.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1996Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Ernest L. Madsen, James A. Zagzebski, Gary R. Frank, Jason J. Rownd
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Patent number: 5574212Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is presented an automated system for testing the ability of clinical ultrasound scanners to detect focal lesions in human tissue. An ultrasound scanner phantom containing background material mimicking the ultrasonic characteristics of human tissue and coplanar spherical target lesions ultrasonically contrasting with the background material is scanned using the ultrasound scanner to be tested. Digitized images are made of the ultrasound scan of slices in the ultrasound phantom containing background material only and of slices on which the focal lesions are centered. A lesion signal to noise ratio (SNR).sub.L is then calculated at each defined pixel coordinate in the target lesion slice.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1995Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Ernest L. Madsen, James A. Zagzebski, Gary R. Frank, Jason J. Rownd
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Patent number: 4843866Abstract: An ultrasound phantom for use with an ultrasound scanner. The ultrasound phantom includes a container having a bottom and walls, margins of the walls remote from the bottom defining a window, which is closed by an ultrasound-transmitting window cover. A phantom body is contained within the container and includes a matrix made of a matrix material exhibiting a matrix ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient. The phantom body further includes a multiplicity of scattering particles spaced sufficiently close to each other that the scanner is incapable of resolving individual scattering particles and testing spheres having a testing sphere ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient, at least one of which is different from the corresponding matrix ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient. The testing spheres are located within the phantom body in a random array.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1988Date of Patent: July 4, 1989Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Ernest L. Madsen, James A. Zagzebski, Gary R. Frank
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Patent number: 4277367Abstract: Tissue mimicking material for use in ultrasound phantoms formulated as a uniform suspension of solid particles of graphite, talc, pumice, polyethylene microspheres, or liquid particles of vegetable oils, kerosine, or combinations thereof described as scatterers in a congealed gelatin-water-alcohol-preservative matrix; containing detergents to create the liquid particles.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1978Date of Patent: July 7, 1981Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Ernest L. Madsen, James A. Zagzebski, Richard A. Banjavic, Michele M. Burlew