Patents by Inventor Nicolas J. Merlet

Nicolas J. Merlet 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: 11877806
    Abstract: A system for registering a luminal network to a 3D model of the luminal network includes a computing device configured to identify potential matches in the 3D model with location data of a location sensor, assigning one of the potential matches a registration score based on a deformation model applied to the 3D model, and displaying the potential match having the highest registration score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Evgeni Kopel, Oren P. Weingarten, Alexander Nepomniashchy, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 11798178
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Publication number: 20220284676
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for generating a three dimensional (3D) volume including a treatment target including receiving a plurality of two dimensional (2D) input images of a patient, determining a metal artifact in each of the plurality of 2D input images, removing the metal artifacts from the plurality of 2D input images based on the determination of the metal artifact, and replacing metal artifacts with alternative pixel data to generate a plurality of filtered 2D images. A 3D volume is generated from the plurality of filtered 2D images. The plurality of 2D input images including a treatment target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Guy Alexandroni, Ron Barak, Ariel Birenbaum, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 11341720
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for generating a three dimensional (3D) volume including a treatment target including receiving a plurality of two dimensional (2D) input images of a patient, determining a metal artifact in each of the plurality of 2D input images, removing the metal artifacts from the plurality of 2D input images based on the determination of the metal artifact, and replacing metal artifacts with alternative pixel data to generate a plurality of filtered 2D images. A 3D volume is generated from the plurality of filtered 2D images. The plurality of 2D input images including a treatment target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Guy Alexandroni, Ron Barak, Ariel Birenbaum, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 11282251
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing virtual radial ultrasound images from CT data includes receiving CT data, calculating a gradient of the CT data, and obtaining 2D slices by interpolation in 3D. The method further includes calculating transmission and reflection values on each radial line away from a center of each 2D slice to create a lesion image, converting the lesion image to polar, generating random noise in the polar image, and adding random comet tails to the polar image. A background image is created by computing the mean profile along the radius from a series of polar lesion images. The background image is merged with the polar lesion image and random noise is generated in the background of the merged image. Density variations are simulated in the merged image and coordinates of the merged image are transformed to Cartesian to construct a virtual radial ultrasound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Merlet, Oren P. Weingarten
  • Publication number: 20220028081
    Abstract: Systems and methods of estimating movement of anatomical structures of a new patient include learning one or more deformation models from preoperative and intraoperative imaging data of a set of other patients and estimating movement of anatomical structures of the new patient based on the one or more deformation models and preoperative imaging data of the new patient. Estimating movement of the anatomical structures may include applying deformation models to map data derived from preoperative imaging data of a new patient to obtain deformed map data for each deformation model, and determining the deformation model that best fits the intraoperative imaging data of the new patient. Applying a deformation model to map data may include applying a transformation to the deformation model and interpolating to obtain a deformed map data. Registration is computed between locations of a medical device sampled during navigation of the medical device through the new patient and the original and deformed map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Merlet, Oren P. Weingarten, Ariel Birenbaum, Alexander Nepomniashchy, Evgeni Kopel, Guy Alexandroni
  • Publication number: 20210174581
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for generating a three dimensional (3D) volume including a treatment target including receiving a plurality of two dimensional (2D) input images of a patient, determining a metal artifact in each of the plurality of 2D input images, removing the metal artifacts from the plurality of 2D input images based on the determination of the metal artifact, and replacing metal artifacts with alternative pixel data to generate a plurality of filtered 2D images. A 3D volume is generated from the plurality of filtered 2D images. The plurality of 2D input images including a treatment target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Guy Alexandroni, Ron Barak, Ariel Birenbaum, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Publication number: 20210074043
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing virtual radial ultrasound images from CT data includes receiving CT data, calculating a gradient of the CT data, and obtaining 2D slices by interpolation in 3D. The method further includes calculating transmission and reflection values on each radial line away from a center of each 2D slice to create a lesion image, converting the lesion image to polar, generating random noise in the polar image, and adding random comet tails to the polar image. A background image is created by computing the mean profile along the radius from a series of polar lesion images. The background image is merged with the polar lesion image and random noise is generated in the background of the merged image. Density variations are simulated in the merged image and coordinates of the merged image are transformed to Cartesian to construct a virtual radial ultrasound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Merlet, Oren P. Weingarten
  • Patent number: 10930064
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for generating a three dimensional (3D) volume including a treatment target including receiving a plurality of two dimensional (2D) input images of a patient, determining a metal artifact in each of the plurality of 2D input images, removing the metal artifacts from the plurality of 2D input images based on the determination of the metal artifact, and replacing metal artifacts with alternative pixel data to generate a plurality of filtered 2D images. A 3D volume is generated from the plurality of filtered 2D images. The plurality of 2D input images including a treatment target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Guy Alexandroni, Ron Barak, Ariel Birenbaum, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 10872449
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing virtual radial ultrasound images from CT data includes receiving CT data, calculating a gradient of the CT data, and obtaining 2D slices by interpolation in 3D. The method further includes calculating transmission and reflection values on each radial line away from a center of each 2D slice to create a lesion image, converting the lesion image to polar, generating random noise in the polar image, and adding random comet tails to the polar image. A background image is created by computing the mean profile along the radius from a series of polar lesion images. The background image is merged with the polar lesion image and random noise is generated in the background of the merged image. Density variations are simulated in the merged image and coordinates of the merged image are transformed to Cartesian to construct a virtual radial ultrasound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Merlet, Oren P. Weingarten
  • Publication number: 20200294233
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 10706540
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Publication number: 20200179060
    Abstract: A system for registering a luminal network to a 3D model of the luminal network includes a computing device configured to identify potential matches in the 3D model with location data of a location sensor, assigning one of the potential matches a registration score based on a deformation model applied to the 3D model, and displaying the potential match having the highest registration score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Evgeni Kopel, Oren P. Weingarten, Alexander Nepomniashchy, Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 10478143
    Abstract: A method of updating a model of a luminal network. The method includes performing first imaging of a target, generating 3D image data including locations of fiducial markers using images captured in the first imaging, performing second imaging of the target from a first viewpoint and a second viewpoint, generating 2D image data including locations of the fiducial markers from the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint using images captured in the second imaging, determining locations of the fiducial markers in 3D space according to locations of the fiducial markers within the 2D image data of the first viewpoint, locations of the fiducial markers within the 2D image data of the second viewpoint, and the known angle, and registering the 3D image data generated using images captured in the first imaging with the determined locations of the fiducial markers in 3D space. The first viewpoint and the second viewpoint are oriented at a known angle relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Nicolas J. Merlet, Oren P. Weingarten
  • Publication number: 20190340800
    Abstract: A system and method for constructing virtual radial ultrasound images from CT data includes receiving CT data, calculating a gradient of the CT data, and obtaining 2D slices by interpolation in 3D. The method further includes calculating transmission and reflection values on each radial line away from a center of each 2D slice to create a lesion image, converting the lesion image to polar, generating random noise in the polar image, and adding random comet tails to the polar image. A background image is created by computing the mean profile along the radius from a series of polar lesion images. The background image is merged with the polar lesion image and random noise is generated in the background of the merged image. Density variations are simulated in the merged image and coordinates of the merged image are transformed to Cartesian to construct a virtual radial ultrasound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: NICOLAS J. MERLET, OREN P. WEINGARTEN
  • Publication number: 20190244420
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for generating a three dimensional (3D) volume including a treatment target including receiving a plurality of two dimensional (2D) input images of a patient, determining a metal artifact in each of the plurality of 2D input images, removing the metal artifacts from the plurality of 2D input images based on the determination of the metal artifact, and replacing metal artifacts with alternative pixel data to generate a plurality of filtered 2D images. A 3D volume is generated from the plurality of filtered 2D images. The plurality of 2D input images including a treatment target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: GUY ALEXANDRONI, RON BARAK, ARIEL BIRENBAUM, NICOLAS J. MERLET
  • Publication number: 20190122362
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 10163207
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Publication number: 20180232881
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet
  • Patent number: 9959620
    Abstract: Methods and systems for registering three-dimensional (3D) CT image data with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic image data using a plurality of markers are disclosed. In the methods and systems, a lateral angle and a cranial angle are searched for and a roll angle is computed. 3D translation coordinates are also computed. The calculated roll angle and 3D translation coordinates are computed for a predetermined number of times successively. After performing the calculations, the 3D CT image data is overlaid on the 2D fluoroscopic image data based on the lateral angle, the cranial angle, the roll angle, and the 3D translation coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Nicolas J. Merlet