Patents by Inventor Liexiang Fan

Liexiang Fan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240412336
    Abstract: Disclosed are an extended U-Net for multi-information extraction and an application method thereof in low-dose X-ray imaging. The follow technical solution is adopted: expanding the number of output channels in upsampling of a U-Net model, adding a fully connected layer at the end to realize extraction and superposition calculation of multiple information, processing low-dose X-ray images by using the extended U-Net, and taking normalized images, noise and image salient features as outputs for learning and training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Delai LI, Liexiang FAN, Liwei CHEN, Haomiao QIU, Bin LI, Shaowu ZHAO, Yu WANG, Zhonghong WU, Peifeng CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240382182
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic Doppler flow imaging method. The method includes: using eigen decomposition on an ultrasonic image to obtain eigenvectors matrices with different power values, so that the SNR and power distribution of each point of the ultrasonic image are calculated, thereby accurately extracting flow data with high reliability and obtaining accurate and stable flow images. The method has the beneficial effects of filtering out tissue signals and noise signals on the characteristic dimension, so as to better extract flow data by using eigen decomposition on ultrasonic images, retaining complete flow data and providing stable and clear imaging of fine flow without the need of contrast agent injection that may cause injuries to human bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liexiang FAN, Zhongyun WEI, Bin LI, Yuqiang KANG, Haomiao QIU, Yu WANG, Zehang CAI, Zhonghong WU, Peifeng CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240382178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compound method of shear-wave elastography (SWE) and quasi-static elastography (QSE). The method includes: firstly, pre-scanning is carried out on a target region to obtain a rough comparison relation curve, then real-time scanning is carried out. The rough comparison relation curve is optimized and corrected to obtain an accurate comparison relation curve. Finally, the real-time shear modulus of a large area is calculated according to the real-time elastic relative value of the large area, so that accurate real-time elastography is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Delai LI, Liexiang FAN, Yu WANG, Bin LI, Zhonghong WU, Haomiao QIU, Zhongyun WEI, Zehang CAI, Yuqiang KANG, Peifeng CHEN
  • Publication number: 20240312006
    Abstract: An automatic myocardial segmentation method in two-dimensional echocardiography includes: calculating and extracting ridge information in two-dimensional echocardiography; extracting image skeleton data, and connecting fragmented skeleton data to obtain continuous skeleton data by using interpolation; screening the continuous skeleton data, and extracting two optimal paths from a top to a bottom based on a myocardial feature to obtain left and right myocardial skeletons; extracting a set of feature point candidates from the left and right myocardial skeletons, and selecting a pair of key matching feature points from the set of feature point candidates as anchor points based on the myocardial feature; entering anchor point data and left and right myocardial skeleton data in a mathematical model of heart chambers to fit the morphology of heart chambers and obtain an initial myocardial contour; and constructing a myocardial feature energy equation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Delai LI, Liexiang FAN, Zhonghong WU, Bin LI, Yuqiang KANG, Haomiao QIU, Yu WANG, Zhongyun WEI
  • Publication number: 20240225587
    Abstract: An ultrasound automated detection and display method of cranial abnormal regions includes: firstly, a skull surface model is constructed; then contour detection is carried out based on a two-dimensional ultrasonic image to obtain a skull contour curve; fitting is carried out on the contour curve and the skull surface model to determine whether the two-dimensional ultrasonic image has symmetry characteristics or not; finally, similarity comparison calculation is carried out on two mutually symmetrical regions by utilizing the symmetry characteristics of the two-dimensional image, so that whether an abnormal region exists and the location of the abnormal region is determined. The method has the advantages that a skull surface model is constructed before detecting a cranial contour curve on a two-dimensional ultrasonic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liexiang FAN, Delai LI, Zehang CAI, Bin LI, Zhonghong WU, Yu WANG, Jinhao LIN, Shaohui CHEN, Weiwu CHEN, Jingfeng GUO, Yijie CHEN
  • Patent number: 11903769
    Abstract: A first-order estimation method of shear wave velocity, includes the steps of demodulating entry data, and obtaining a complex angle value, matrix average, offset matrix, displacement matrix and shear wave velocity. According to the method, the main contour of the displacement curve is extracted by the quadrature decomposition of matrix, thereby improving the signal quality of the shear wave estimation. Unlike conventional method which needs estimating twice, the shear wave displacement curve can be estimated directly to reduce estimation errors and improve estimation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHANTOU INSTITUTE OF ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Delai Li, Liexiang Fan, Yinan Huang, Bin Li
  • Publication number: 20230386040
    Abstract: Disclosed are a convex-linear bi-plane probe and its application method in prostate volume calculation. The present invention adopts the following technical solution: comprising a probe housing and a probe assembly contained in the probe housing, the probe assembly comprising a linear probe and a convex probe contained at the end of the linear probe, with the linear element inside the linear probe and the convex element inside the convex probe connected as one piece. The benefits of the present invention are that: by setting a convex probe at the end of the linear probe, and by connecting the linear element and the convex element as one, the volume of the probe can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the use of convex-linear biplane probe and its integrated design collect two orthogonal ultrasound images of the prostate, which improves the accuracy of prostate volume calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Shantou Institute of Ultrasonic Instruments Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Delai LI, Liexiang FAN, Jinhao LIN, Zehang CAI, Bin LI, Yu WANG, Shutian SU, Zhonghong WU, Xurui ZENG, Peifeng CHEN
  • Patent number: 11717256
    Abstract: Motion independent acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is provided. Rather than rely on the displacement over time for each location, the displacements over locations for each time are used. Parallel beamforming is used to simultaneously sample across a region of interest. Since it may be assumed that the different locations are subjected to the same motion at the same time, finding a peak displacement over locations for each given time provides peak or profile information independent of the motion. The velocity or other viscoelastic parameter may be estimated from the displacements over locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
  • Publication number: 20230225700
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of ultrasonic detection, in particular to a craniocerebral ultrasonic standard plane imaging and automatic detection and display method for abnormal regions. The following technical solution is adopted: contour detection is performed on the scanned ultrasound images the skull to construct a skull surface model, and the standard planes in ultrasound images are identified and extracted according to the skull surface model. The symmetry of the standard planes in ultrasound images is used to compare the similarity, so as to obtain the abnormal regions for segmentation and display. The advantages of the present disclosure are as follows: the skull surface model is constructed by detecting the cranial edge, and the coordinate system is established based on this model, thereby the standard planes in ultrasound images can be quickly identified from the scanned ultrasound images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Liexiang FAN, Zehang CAI, Bin LI, Zhonghong WU, Yu WANG, Jinhao LIN, Xiaoming ZHOU, Shaohui CHEN, Weiwu CHEN, Jingfeng GUO, Yijie CHEN, Zichun CHEN
  • Patent number: 11282204
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a multi-target 3D ultrasound image segmentation method based on simulated and measured data. The method includes: presetting conventional acoustic parameters; collecting raw 3D data; employing an initial segmentation algorithm to segment the raw 3D data; substituting with the conventional acoustic parameters according to probability in order to form a transitional image model; performing a simulation operation; performing transformation to obtain simulated data; performing a comparison operation; adjusting corresponding magnitude of the probability in each probability variable, and returning to the step of substituting with the conventional acoustic parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SHANTOU INSTITUTE OF ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liexiang Fan, Delai Li, Jinyao Yang, Jingfeng Guo, Zhonghong Wu
  • Publication number: 20210390701
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a multi-target 3D ultrasound image segmentation method based on simulated and measured data. The method includes: presetting conventional acoustic parameters; collecting raw 3D data; employing an initial segmentation algorithm to segment the raw 3D data; substituting with the conventional acoustic parameters according to probability in order to form a transitional image model; performing a simulation operation; performing transformation to obtain simulated data; performing a comparison operation; adjusting corresponding magnitude of the probability in each probability variable, and returning to the step of substituting with the conventional acoustic parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Liexiang FAN, Delai LI, Jinyao YANG, Jingfeng GUO, Zhonghong WU
  • Publication number: 20210378636
    Abstract: A first-order estimation method of shear wave velocity, includes the steps of demodulating entry data, and obtaining a complex angle value, matrix average, offset matrix, displacement matrix and shear wave velocity. According to the method, the main contour of the displacement curve is extracted by the quadrature decomposition of matrix, thereby improving the signal quality of the shear wave estimation. Unlike conventional method which needs estimating twice, the shear wave displacement curve can be estimated directly to reduce estimation errors and improve estimation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Delai LI, Liexiang FAN, Yinan HUANG, Bin LI
  • Patent number: 11006928
    Abstract: Shear wave propagation is used to estimate the speed of sound in a patient. An ultrasound scanner detects a time of occurrence of a shear wave at each of multiple locations. The difference in time of occurrence, given tissue stiffness or shear velocity, is used to estimate the speed of sound for the specific tissue of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, David Duncan, Seungsoo Kim, Stephen Rosenzweig, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10743814
    Abstract: Fat fraction is estimated from shear wave propagation. Acoustic radiation force is used to generate a shear wave in tissue of interest. The attenuation, center frequency, bandwidth or other non-velocity characteristic of the shear wave is calculated and used to estimate the fat fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Liexiang Fan, John Benson
  • Patent number: 10675007
    Abstract: For noise reduction in elasticity imaging, frequency compounding is used. Displacements caused by the acoustic radiation force impulse are measured using signals at different frequencies, either due to transmission of tracking pulses and reception at different frequencies or due to processing received signals at different sub-bands. The displacements are (a) combined to compound and the compounded displacements are used to determine elasticity or (b) are used to determine elasticity and the elasticities from information at the different frequencies are compounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Rosenzweig, Manoj Menon, Seungsoo Kim, Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10646202
    Abstract: To increase the signal-to-noise ratio for displacements used to estimate the shear speed in patient tissue, constructive interference from multiple shear waves is used. By transmitting acoustic radiation force impulses focused at different locations, the resulting shear waves may constructively interfere within a region of interest. This constructive interference causes a greater amplitude of displacement. The location of this more easily detected greater interference and the difference in time of the transmitted acoustic radiation force impulses are used to estimate the shear wave speed for the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10582911
    Abstract: For acoustic radiation force ultrasound imaging, multiple displacement profiles for a given location are acquired. Physiological and/or transducer axial and/or lateral motion are accounted for using the displacements from the different acoustic radiation force impulses. For axial motion, a difference between the displacements of the different profiles provides information about motion during displacement at the location caused by just the undesired motion. A more accurate estimate of the undesired motion for removing from the displacement profile is provided. For lateral motion, the displacement profiles are obtained using waves traveling from different directions relative to the given location. An average of velocities estimated from the different profiles removes undesired lateral motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10512450
    Abstract: Shear wave characteristics are estimated from analytic data. Measures of displacement are converted into complex representations. The magnitude and/or phase components of the complex representation may be used for estimating various characteristics, such as velocity, center frequency, attenuation, shear modulus, or shear viscosity. The zero-phase of the phase component represents an occurrence of the shear wave at that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10512452
    Abstract: For estimating attenuation in ultrasound imaging, displacements at different locations along an acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) beam are used measured. The on-axis displacements and displacements from a phantom using a same ARFI focus as a reference are used to cancel out focusing effects. A single ARFI beam may be used to estimate the attenuation for a location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10390796
    Abstract: Three-dimensional elasticity imaging is provided. Motion in three-dimensions due to sources other than the stress or compression for elasticity imaging is found from anatomical information. Objects less likely to be subject to the stress or compression and/or likely to be subject to undesired motion are used to find the undesired motion. This anatomical motion is accounted for in estimating the elasticity, such as removing the motion from echo data used to estimate elasticity or subtracting out the motion from motion generated as part of estimating elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Liexiang Fan, Art Schenck