Patents by Inventor John W. Allison
John W. Allison 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: 6527717Abstract: Accurate tissue motion systems and methods are provided. Motion of the ultrasound transducer is accounted for in estimates at tissue motion. Correcting for transducer motion better isolates localized tissue contractions or expansions, such as motion of the myocardial muscle or fibers. Accurate motion estimation is also provided by determining an angle of motion from the ultrasound data. The angle of motion is used to adjust velocity estimates, providing two-dimensional velocity vectors (i.e. motion estimates comprising motion in at least two dimensions). Movement of tissue is determined by correlating speckle or a feature represented by two different sets of ultrasound data obtained at different times. Additional aspects include tracking the location of a tissue of interest. A characteristic of strain, such as the strain rate or strain, is calculated for the tracked tissue of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: John I. Jackson, Randall L. Schlesinger, John W. Allison
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Publication number: 20020120195Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system aligns substantially co-planar two-dimensional images to form an extended field of view using improved compounding methods. Compounding with a finite impulse response is used for more versatile compositing. The compounding is adaptive, such as through adapting the image regions, weighting, or type of compounding as a function of correlation, location within the image, estimated motion or combinations thereof. A user warning is provided as a function of the correlation between images.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2002Publication date: August 29, 2002Applicant: Acuson CorporationInventors: John A. Hossack, Linyong Pang, Thilaka S. Sumanaweera, John W. Allison, Kutay F. Ustuner, Charles E. Bradley
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Patent number: 6413218Abstract: The preferred embodiments described herein provide a medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system and method for determining an acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam. In one preferred embodiment, the ultrasound system determines an acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam in a user-selected region. In another preferred embodiment, the ultrasound system achieves a specified acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam in a selected region by automatically adjusting an operating parameter of the ultrasound imaging system. In yet another preferred embodiment, a region is selected in the ultrasound image that does not contain a peak acoustic output parameter of a transmitted ultrasonic beam. The system then determines an acoustic output parameter of the transmitted ultrasonic beam in that region and provides an indication of the determined acoustic output parameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: John W. Allison, Lewis J. Thomas, Sriram Krishnan, Gregory L. Holley
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Patent number: 6364835Abstract: A medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging system aligns substantially co-planar two-dimensional images to form an extended field of view using improved compounding methods. Compounding with a finite impulse response is used for more versatile compositing. The compounding is adaptive, such as through adapting the image regions, weighting, or type of compounding as a function of correlation, location within the image, estimated motion or combinations thereof. A user warning is provided as a function of the correlation between images.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: John A. Hossack, Linyong Pang, Thilaka S. Sumanaweera, John W. Allison, Kutay F. Ustuner, Charles E. Bradley
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Patent number: 6258029Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6241677Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2000Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6193664Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6110118Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1999Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6093149Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6086539Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1996Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 6030344Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantifying and displaying ultrasound signals in an ultrasonic system are provided. A first signal value for each of at least one spatial location in a region of interest is acquired at a first time, and the signal values are summed to obtain a first surface integral value. A second signal value for each of said at least one spatial location in said region of interest is acquired at a second time, and the second signal values are summed to obtain a second surface integral value. The first surface integral value is summed with the second surface integral value to obtain a time based integral. The time based integral is displayed. Other quantities based on any of various ultrasound parameters, such as Doppler energy, Doppler velocity and B-mode intensity, are calculated and displayed as quantities or as waveforms as a function of time. Furthermore, various comparisons of quantities and waveforms are provided. Image plane data or other ultrasound data are used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
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Patent number: 5891037Abstract: A method for measuring Doppler ultrasound information transmits a transmit beam having a frequency dependent focus in which low-frequency components of the transmit beam are focused at long ranges and progressively higher frequency components of the transmit beam are focused at progressively shorter ranges. Beamformed receive signals are generated in response to receive signals from the transducers, and these beamformed receive signals are applied to Doppler processors. The frequency dependent focus of the transmit beam provides a transmit beam that is more uniform in width and intensity, and the Doppler processors thereby provide an improved Doppler image signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1997Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Acuson CorporationInventors: John A. Hossack, John W. Allison, Albert Gee, Matthew O'Donnell