Patents by Inventor Robert C. Waag

Robert C. Waag 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: 11872078
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing ultrasound signals from a hemispheric imaging region (e.g., by a stationary array of transducer elements arranged in the shape of a faceted hemisphere) and estimating scattering measurements that would be made by a virtual array in the opposite hemisphere (e.g., by a network of processors that receive and process the transmitted ultrasound signals in parallel) by forming an initial estimate of a medium variation for each of a plurality of subvolumes in the scattering object to form an estimated object, calculating residual scattering by using a difference between a scattering response calculated for the estimated object and measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object, forming an initial three-dimensional image of the scattering object, and extrapolating a difference between the scattering response calculated for the estimated object and the measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Patent number: 11844648
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for volumetric ultrasound imaging is described. The device and system include an array of transducer elements grouped in triangular planar facets and substantially configured in the shape of a hemisphere to form a cup-shaped volumetric imaging region within the cavity of the hemisphere, A plurality of data-acquisition assemblies are connected to the transducers, which are configured to collect ultrasound signals received from the transducers and transmit image data to a network of processors that are configured to construct a volumetric image of an object within the imaging region based on the image data received from the data-acquisition assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Publication number: 20230210494
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing ultrasound signals from a hemispheric imaging region (e.g., by a stationary array of transducer elements arranged in the shape of a faceted hemisphere) and estimating scattering measurements that would be made by a virtual array in the opposite hemisphere (e.g., by a network of processors that receive and process the transmitted ultrasound signals in parallel) by forming an initial estimate of a medium variation for each of a plurality of subvolumes in the scattering object to form an estimated object, calculating residual scattering by using a difference between a scattering response calculated for the estimated object and measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object, forming an initial three-dimensional image of the scattering object, and extrapolating a difference between the scattering response calculated for the estimated object and the measured ultrasound signals received from the scattering object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Publication number: 20220175341
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for volumetric ultrasound imaging is described. The device and system include an array of transducer elements grouped in triangular planar facets and substantially configured in the shape of a hemisphere to form a cup-shaped volumetric imaging region within the cavity of the hemisphere, A plurality of data-acquisition assemblies are connected to the transducers, which are configured to collect ultrasound signals received from the transducers and transmit image data to a network of processors that are configured to construct a volumetric image of an object within the imaging region based on the image data received from the data-acquisition assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Patent number: 11191519
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for volumetric ultrasound imaging is described. The device and system include an array of transducer elements grouped in triangular planar facets and substantially configured in the shape of a hemisphere to form a cup-shaped volumetric imaging region within the cavity of the hemisphere, A plurality of data-acquisition assemblies are connected to the transducers, which are configured to collect ultrasound signals received from the transducers and transmit image data to a network of processors that are configured to construct a volumetric image of an object within the imaging region based on the image data received from the data-acquisition assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Habico, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Publication number: 20170238898
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for volumetric ultrasound imaging is described. The device and system include an array of transducer elements grouped in triangular planar facets and substantially configured in the shape of a hemisphere to form a cup-shaped volumetric imaging region within the cavity of the hemisphere, A plurality of data-acquisition assemblies are connected to the transducers, which are configured to collect ultrasound signals received from the transducers and transmit image data to a network of processors that are configured to construct a volumetric image of an object within the imaging region based on the image data received from the data-acquisition assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: HABICO, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Patent number: 7867166
    Abstract: In estimation of an aberration in propagation of an ultrasonic wave from an aperture through an aberration path, the aperture is modeled as a plurality of sources and receivers. The frequency-domain magnitude of the aberration is estimated by normalizing the scattered signal power spectrum. The frequency-domain phase of the aberration is estimated by a recursion using cross spectra of signals at neighboring receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Robert C. Waag, Jeffrey P. Astheimer
  • Patent number: 6699189
    Abstract: Aberrations in ultrasound imaging are modeled as a linear filter bank. The response of each linear filter is determined through blind system identification and is used to correct the aberration by applying a predistortion to the transmit signals and a compensation to the receive signals. To reduce computation, the blind system identification can be done through multiple levels. In a two-level implementation, the transducers in the array are grouped into subapertures. The blind system identification is applied in each of the subapertures to obtain the first-level response to each element. Using these responses, a common input is found for each subaperture, and blind system identification is applied to find the second-level responses. From the first-level and second-level responses, the response at each filter in the bank is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Feng Lin, Robert C. Waag