Patents by Inventor Michael J. Carston

Michael J. Carston 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: 9014439
    Abstract: A method for displaying colonography images includes presenting a series of oblique images of the colon at sequential locations along the colon centerline. Each image is generally centered on the centerline, presents a field of view generally perpendicular to the centerline, and is oriented with the bottom of the colon down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Robert J. Wentz, Armando Manduca
  • Patent number: 8564593
    Abstract: An improved method for processing image voxel data representative of 3-dimensional images of a colon to remove the effects of tagged stool. The method uses parabolic curve intensity-gradient models at a transition between two material types as a function of the fraction of the two materials for each of a plurality of two-material type classes, including a gas-tissue transition model, a gas-stool transition model and a stool-tissue transition model. The voxels are classified into one of a plurality of substance classes including tagged stool, gas, tissue and unknown classes. The unknown class voxels are processed to classify the unknown class voxels into one of the two-material type classes. The two-material type class voxels are processed to determine the fractions of materials in each voxel. The intensity of the two-material type class voxels is then adjusted as a function of the fraction of the materials in the voxels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Armando Manduca
  • Patent number: 8442290
    Abstract: A method for processing and displaying colonography image data. First distance tissue pixels representative of tissue within a first distance of gas pixels representative of gas are processed with a first window/level setting to generate a first setting set of image pixels. Second distance tissue pixels representative of tissue within a second distance of the gas pixels are processed with a second window/level setting to generate a second setting set of image pixels. The second distance is a distance greater than the first distance. A colonography image including both the first and second setting sets of image pixels is then displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Armando Manduca
  • Publication number: 20120008841
    Abstract: A method for processing and displaying colonography image data. First distance tissue pixels representative of tissue within a first distance of gas pixels representative of gas are processed with a first window/level setting to generate a first setting set of image pixels. Second distance tissue pixels representative of tissue within a second distance of the gas pixels are processed with a second window/level setting to generate a second setting set of image pixels. The second distance is a distance greater than the first distance. A colonography image including both the first and second setting sets of image pixels is then displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Armando Manduca
  • Patent number: 8031921
    Abstract: A method for processing CT colonography input image voxel data representative of 3-dimensional images of a colon having gas and stool tagged with stool tagging agent, to remove the stool from the images. The input image voxel data is generated by an imaging instrument having a characteristic point spread function representative of instrument blurring. The point spread function of the instrument can be empirically determined, and the image data processed as a function of the point spread function to accurately identify and remove the tagged stool. In one embodiment of the invention, portions of the image data representative of the tagged stool and colon tissue are dilated as a function of the point spread function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Armando Manduca, Michael J. Carston, Robert J. Wentz, C. Daniel Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100142776
    Abstract: A method for displaying colonography images includes presenting a series of oblique images of the colon at sequential locations along the colon centerline. Each image is generally centered on the centerline, presents a field of view generally perpendicular to the centerline, and is oriented with the bottom of the colon down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Robert J. Wentz, Armando Manduca
  • Publication number: 20100142783
    Abstract: A method for displaying colonography images includes presenting a series of axial images of the colon at sequential locations along the colon centerline. Each image is generally centered on the centerline and presents a field of view parallel to the axial plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Armando Manduca, Robert J. Wentz
  • Publication number: 20100128036
    Abstract: An improved method for processing image voxel data representative of 3-dimensional images of a colon to remove the effects of tagged stool. The method uses parabolic curve intensity-gradient models at a transition between two material types as a function of the fraction of the two materials for each of a plurality of two-material type classes, including a gas-tissue transition model, a gas-stool transition model and a stool-tissue transition model. The voxels are classified into one of a plurality of substance classes including tagged stool, gas, tissue and unknown classes. The unknown class voxels are processed to classify the unknown class voxels into one of the two-material type classes. The two-material type class voxels are processed to determine the fractions of materials in each voxel. The intensity of the two-material type class voxels is then adjusted as a function of the fraction of the materials in the voxels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: C. Daniel Johnson, Michael J. Carston, Armando Manduca
  • Publication number: 20080273781
    Abstract: A method for processing CT colonography input image voxel data representative of 3-dimensional images of a colon having gas and stool tagged with stool tagging agent, to remove the stool from the images. The input image voxel data is generated by an imaging instrument having a characteristic point spread function representative of instrument blurring. The point spread function of the instrument can be empirically determined, and the image data processed as a function of the point spread function to accurately identify and remove the tagged stool. In one embodiment of the invention, portions of the image data representative of the tagged stool and colon tissue are dilated as a function of the point spread function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Armando Manduca, Michael J. Carston, Robert J. Wentz, C. Daniel Johnson