Patents by Inventor Lauren S. Pflugrath

Lauren S. Pflugrath 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: 11619730
    Abstract: A method that includes transmitting coded waveforms simultaneously on multiple elements for several frames, constructing a first multi-input, single output (MISO) system from the codes to model transmit-receive paths, solving system and RF data observation by linear model theory, giving an IR set for the medium, and applying the estimates to a secondary MISO system, constructed by analogy to the first, but with pulses convenient for beamforming in the form of a focused set of single-cycle pulses for ideal focused reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Verasonics, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Flynn, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 10302750
    Abstract: A method and system for generating arbitrary ultrasonic waveforms using a tri-state transmitter. Three variants of the device are described to provide functionality in three usage scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: VERASONICS, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Flynn, Peter J. Kaczkowski, Brian J. Pflugrath, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20180088220
    Abstract: A method that includes transmitting coded waveforms simultaneously on multiple elements for several frames, constructing a first multi-input, single output (MISO) system from the codes to model transmit-receive paths, solving system and RF data observation by linear model theory, giving an IR set for the medium, and applying the estimates to a secondary MISO system, constructed by analogy to the first, but with pulses convenient for beamforming in the form of a focused set of single-cycle pulses for ideal focused reconstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: John A. Flynn, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20160161603
    Abstract: A method and system for generating arbitrary ultrasonic waveforms using a tri-state transmitter. Three variants of the device are described to provide functionality in three usage scenarios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: John A. FLYNN, Peter J. KACZKOWSKI, Brian J. PFLUGRATH, Lauren S. PFLUGRATH
  • Publication number: 20140155752
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrance R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20120243367
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrence R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 8216146
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrance R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 7901358
    Abstract: A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: VisualSonics Inc., Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
    Inventors: James Mehi, Ronald E. Daigle, Laurence C. Brasfield, Brian Starkoski, Jerrold Wen, Kai Wen Liu, Lauren S. Pflugrath, F. Stuart Foster, Desmond Hirson
  • Patent number: 7740586
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrance R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20100121196
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrance R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 7604596
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin- Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrance R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20040138564
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrence R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Publication number: 20020177774
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrence R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 6416475
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Geoffrey H. Jones, Terrence R. Doherty, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 6383139
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering including wall filtering matrix and Hartley transform matrix functions, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging. The advent of color flow imaging based on Doppler frequency estimation in medical ultrasound addresses a need for rapid assessment of overall flow characteristics in cardiac care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Lauren S. Pflugrath, Ramachandra Pailoor, Terrence R. Doherty, Geoffrey Hugh Jones
  • Patent number: 6203498
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic imaging device is provided as an integral unit with all components and circuitry necessary for both image acquisition and image display included in a single enclosure. Usually, the device will also include an on-board battery so that it can be used without any power cords or other cables. Preferably, the device is provided as part of a system including a recharging base unit having a receptacle for removably receiving and storing the hand held device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bunce, Lauren S. Pflugrath
  • Patent number: 6142946
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The transmitted image signals are received by a receiver in the mainframe ultrasound system where they undergo further image processing and are displayed. In a preferred embodiment the scanhead image signals are at least partially beamformed in the scanhead before being transmitted to the ultrasound system, thereby reducing the required transmission bandwidth. The cordless scanheads are battery powered, and are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not being used for scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: ATL Ultrasound, Inc.
    Inventors: Juin-Jet Hwang, Lauren S. Pflugrath, Leo R. Catallo
  • Patent number: 6135961
    Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren S. Pflugrath, Jacques Souquet, Blake W. Little, Juin-Jet Hwang, William R. Ogle, Larry Greisel, Justin Coughlin, Steven G. Danielson
  • Patent number: 6117085
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is provided with cordless scanheads which wirelessly transmit ultrasonic image signals to the imaging system. The cordless scanheads are battery powered by rechargeable batteries which are recharged by the ultrasound system when the scanheads are not in use. In preferred embodiments the charging system is protected from contaminants such as ultrasonic gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ATL Ultrasound, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Picatti, Leo R. Catallo, Lauren S. Pflugrath, Juin-Jet Hwang
  • Patent number: RE46185
    Abstract: A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mehi, Ronald E. Daigle, Laurence C. Brasfield, Brian Starkoski, Jerrold Wen, Kai Wen Liu, Lauren S. Pflugrath, F. Stuart Foster, Desmond Hirson