Patents by Inventor Patrick B. Heffernan

Patrick B. Heffernan 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: 8803911
    Abstract: This invention provides a simple user interface and sequencing viewing method for a mammography interpretation workstation. In particular, the invention includes the method and apparatus that moves the source images and the associated data using two-level of pre-fetching and caching mechanism, sequences the reading workflow (including worklist, hanging protocol, viewing sequencing), draws markup using electronic grease pan, and automatically generates the recall forms and screening reports. The user interface operates on single button and mouse wheel style to maximize the radiologists' efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Three Palm Software
    Inventors: Heidi Daoxian Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan, László K Tabár
  • Patent number: 8064665
    Abstract: A method for transforming radiological image data from a digital receiver obtains digital image data values from the digital receiver and compensates for exposure response differences between a screen film system and the digital receiver. Modulation transfer function differences between the screen film system and the digital receiver are compensated and noise content at frequencies approaching the Nyquist frequency for the digital receiver is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary E. Couwenhoven, Michael D. Heath, Xiaohui Wang, Heidi D. Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 7945083
    Abstract: A method for supporting diagnostic workflow from a medical imaging apparatus. A set of at least two images are obtained from a patient and displayed according to a user-specified image display layout selected from a plurality of image display layouts. One or more markers are associated with a region of interest in the displayed images. A list of regions of interest is generated, each having an entry for each associated marker. A classification is assigned to each entry in the list of regions of interest according to health risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoxian H. Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan, Marco Bucci, Zhimin Huo
  • Patent number: 7593561
    Abstract: A method for computer-aided detection of microcalcification clusters using a digital computer obtains digital mammography data for a single view image and normalizes and filters the image data to reduce noise. A first mask is generated and applied to the image data for defining the breast structure, forming a first cropped image. A second mask is generated and applied to the image data for defining muscle structure, forming a second cropped image. An artifact mask corresponding to vascular calcifications and known imaging artifacts is generated and applied to the first and second cropped images, defining first and second artifact-masked cropped images. In a repeated sequence, portions of each artifact-masked cropped image are processed using an enhancement algorithm and reducing edge effects to obtain a set of microcalcification cluster candidates and suspected microcalcification clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoxian H. Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan, Yue Shen
  • Publication number: 20080166034
    Abstract: A method for transforming radiological image data from a digital receiver obtains digital image data values from the digital receiver and compensates for exposure response differences between a screen film system and the digital receiver. Modulation transfer function differences between the screen film system and the digital receiver are compensated and noise content at frequencies approaching the Nyquist frequency for the digital receiver is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Mary E. Couwenhoven, Michael D. Heath, Xiaohui Wang, Heidi D. Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20070286466
    Abstract: A system for processing medical data related to a patient. The system includes an algorithm server, an adapter service, and at least one storage device. The algorithm server accepts input medical data and processes the input medical data to form output medical data. The adapter service provides the input medical data for use by the algorithm server. The adapter service comprises: (1) a controller for managing adapter service interaction with the algorithm server; (2) at least one input module communicating with an input apparatus over a network connection for obtaining patient data from the apparatus, and conditioning the patient data to form the input medical data for the algorithm server; and (3) at least one output module accepting the output medical data from the algorithm server, and conditioning the output medical data according to a data interchange standard. The storage device stores the input medical data obtained by the adapter service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick B. Heffernan, Daoxian H. Zhang
  • Publication number: 20070274585
    Abstract: A method for supporting diagnostic workflow from a medical imaging apparatus. A set of at least two images are obtained from a patient and displayed according to a user-specified image display layout selected from a plurality of image display layouts. One or more markers are associated with a region of interest in the displayed images. A list of regions of interest is generated, each having an entry for each associated marker. A classification is assigned to each entry in the list of regions of interest according to health risk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Daoxian H. Zhang, Patrick B. Heffernan, Marco Bucci, Zhimin Huo