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).

  • Patent number: 6527717
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Jackson, Randall L. Schlesinger, John W. Allison
  • Publication number: 20020120195
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, Linyong Pang, Thilaka S. Sumanaweera, John W. Allison, Kutay F. Ustuner, Charles E. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6413218
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Allison, Lewis J. Thomas, Sriram Krishnan, Gregory L. Holley
  • Patent number: 6364835
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, Linyong Pang, Thilaka S. Sumanaweera, John W. Allison, Kutay F. Ustuner, Charles E. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6258029
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6241677
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6193664
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6110118
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6093149
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6086539
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6030344
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Ismayil M. Guracar, Samuel H. Maslak, John W. Allison, Paul E. Chandler, John I. Jackson, Arvind Jain, Laurence S. McCabe
  • Patent number: 5891037
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Hossack, John W. Allison, Albert Gee, Matthew O'Donnell