Patents by Inventor Ruikang K. Wang

Ruikang K. Wang 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: 20220329767
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of generating a visualization of wavelength-dependent surface characteristics is provided. A computing device receives an input image captured by a camera, wherein the input image includes information in a low-dimensional color space. The computing device processes the input image to determine spectrum band information in a high-dimensional color space that corresponds to the input image. The computing device extracts subtractive information from the spectrum band information to obtain wavelength-dependent surface characteristic information, The computing device generates the visualization using the wavelength-dependent surface characteristic information. In some embodiments, the computing device may be a smartphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Qinghua He
  • Patent number: 11413007
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring one or more properties of a soft material employ air transmitted ultrasound that is reflected from the soft material to generate a mechanical wave in the soft material. A method of measuring one or more properties of a soft material includes transmitting ultrasound through air to an interface boundary between the soft material and air. Force is applied to the soft material by reflecting the ultrasound from the soft material. A mechanical wave is generated in the soft material as a result of the force applied to the soft material. Propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material is measured with an imaging system. One or more properties of the soft material is determined based on the measured propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Lukasz Ambrozinski, Matthew O'Donnell, Ivan Pelivanov, Soon Joon Yoon, David Li, Shaozhen Song, Ruikang K. Wang, Tueng T. Shen, Liang Gao
  • Publication number: 20220183553
    Abstract: Handheld optical imaging devices and methods are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system includes an OCT probe that is configured as a hand-held probe for imaging an eye of a patient, the OCT probe includes: an OCT optical system configured to direct a source OCT signal to the eye and configured to capture OCT scan signal returning from the eye; and an on-probe display carried by a handle, wherein the on-probe display is configured to display imaging data of the eye of a patient to an operator during OCT imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Shaozhen Song
  • Patent number: 11284792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing quality of a flow image of a sample of a subject are provided. The method comprises acquiring a first flow image from a plurality of first OMAG scans of the sample, and acquiring a structure image from a second OMAG scan of the sample. Data based on pixel intensity values from the flow image and pixel intensity values from the structure image are then plotted onto a graph and from the graph, may be differentiated into a first data group representing static structure signals and a second data group representing flow signals. The method then includes suppressing pixels in the flow image corresponding to the first data group. The flow signal may also be multiplied by a weighting factor to suppress artifacts in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Anqi Zhang, Qinqin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10909683
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing quality of a flow image of a sample are provided. An image is obtained from a plurality of optical image scans of a sample comprising blood perfused tissue. A vector comprising tissue components, flow components, and noise is then generated, and eigenvectors and eigenvalues are estimated from the vector. From the eigenvectors and eigenvalues, an eigen regression filter is applied to isolate flow components from the tissue components in the sample. The isolated tissue components may then be removed from the image to enhance visualization and quantification of a flow of dynamic moving particles within the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: Ruikang K. Wang
  • Publication number: 20200315570
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring one or more properties of a soft material employ air transmitted ultrasound that is reflected from the soft material to generate a mechanical wave in the soft material. A method of measuring one or more properties of a soft material includes transmitting ultrasound through air to an interface boundary between the soft material and air. Force is applied to the soft material by reflecting the ultrasound from the soft material. A mechanical wave is generated in the soft material as a result of the force applied to the soft material. Propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material is measured with an imaging system. One or more properties of the soft material is determined based on the measured propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Lukasz Ambrozinski, Matthew O'Donnell, Ivan Pelivanov, Soon Joon Yoon, David Li, Shaozhen Song, Ruikang K. Wang, Tueng T. Shen, Liang Gao
  • Patent number: 10529061
    Abstract: Systems and methods of producing medical images of a subject are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, structural data and vascular data are acquired from a region of interest in the subject. A filter is generated using structural image data acquired from a second layer and blood flow image data received from a first layer in the region of interest. The filter is applied to vascular image data acquired from a second, deeper layer in the region of interest to form an image of the second layer having reduced tailing artifacts relative to the unfiltered vascular image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Anqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 10405793
    Abstract: The present technology relates generally to systems and methods for in vivo visualization of lymphatic vessels. A system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device and a computing device coupled to the OCT device configured to cause the OCT device to perform an OCT scan, generate image data in response to the OCT scan, and apply an eigendecomposition filter to the image data to produce processed image data. Alternatively or in addition, the computing device can compensate for scattering attenuation along an optical axis of the OCT scan in the image data set to generate compensated image data, enhance contrast of the compensated image data along a cross-section substantially orthogonal to the optical axis to generate contrast-enhanced image data, and identify at least one lymphatic vessel in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Siavash Yousefi, Utku Baran
  • Patent number: 10354378
    Abstract: A five-index quantitative analysis of OCT angiograms is disclosed. One method of analyzing an anatomical region of interest of a subject includes acquiring vascular image data from the region of interest and generating a binary vasculature map from the vascular image data. A vessel skeleton map and vessel perimeter map are generated from the binary vasculature map. Based on the three generated maps, a vessel area density, vessel skeleton density, vessel perimeter index, vessel diameter index, and vessel complexity can be determined, in addition to detection of any flow impairment zones in the region of interest. These metrics can be used to detect and assess vascular abnormalities from multiple perspectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Chieh-Li Chen, Zhongdi Chu, Qinqin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190213738
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing quality of a flow image of a sample are provided. An image is obtained from a plurality of optical image scans of a sample comprising blood perfused tissue. A vector comprising tissue components, flow components, and noise is then generated, and eigenvectors and eigenvalues are estimated from the vector. From the eigenvectors and eigenvalues, an eigen regression filter is applied to isolate flow components from the tissue components in the sample. The isolated tissue components may then be removed from the image to enhance visualization and quantification of a flow of dynamic moving particles within the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Ruikang K. WANG
  • Publication number: 20180232864
    Abstract: Systems and methods of producing medical images of a subject are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, structural data and vascular data are acquired from a region of interest in the subject. A filter is generated using structural image data acquired from a second layer and blood flow image data received from a first layer in the region of interest. The filter is applied to vascular image data acquired from a second, deeper layer in the region of interest to form an image of the second layer having reduced tailing artifacts relative to the unfiltered vascular image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Anqi Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180042473
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing quality of a flow image of a sample of a subject are provided. The method comprises acquiring a first flow image from a plurality of first OMAG scans of the sample, and acquiring a structure image from a second OMAG scan of the sample. Data based on pixel intensity values from the flow image and pixel intensity values from the structure image are then plotted onto a graph and from the graph, may be differentiated into a first data group representing static structure signals and a second data group representing flow signals. The method then includes suppressing pixels in the flow image corresponding to the first data group. The flow signal may also be multiplied by a weighting factor to suppress artifacts in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ruikang K. WANG, Anqi ZHANG, Qinqin ZHANG
  • Patent number: 9833148
    Abstract: Systems and methods for photoacoustic imaging are provided. Photoacoustic signals are excited from a body and the excited photoacoustic signals are detected with a low coherence interferometer system serving as a photoacoustic detector. Cross-sectional images of the body are then reconstructed by the system from the detected photoacoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington Through its Center For Commerciallzation
    Inventor: Ruikang K. Wang
  • Publication number: 20170294015
    Abstract: A five-index quantitative analysis of OCT angiograms is disclosed. One method of analyzing an anatomical region of interest of a subject includes acquiring vascular image data from the region of interest and generating a binary vasculature map from the vascular image data. A vessel skeleton map and vessel perimeter map are generated from the binary vasculature map. Based on the three generated maps, a vessel area density, vessel skeleton density, vessel perimeter index, vessel diameter index, and vessel complexity can be determined, in addition to detection of any flow impairment zones in the region of interest. These metrics can be used to detect and assess vascular abnormalities from multiple perspectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Chieh-Li Chen, Zhongdi Chu, Qinqin Zhang
  • Patent number: 9282905
    Abstract: A method for imaging blood flow through target tissue is disclosed. An example method may include (a) directing a light beam at a blood-perfused target tissue, (b) reflecting the directed light beam off of static target tissue and flowing cells, (c) capturing a plurality of digital images of interference patterns of the reflected light in a plurality of successive frames, (d) measuring a light intensity of at least one pixel of each digital image, where the at least one pixel corresponds to an identical pair of coordinates in each successive frame, (e) comparing the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of each digital image to the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of an adjacent frame at the identical pair of coordinates and (f) determining a compiled light intensity for the at least one pixel for an aggregate motion contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: University of Washington Through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventor: Ruikang K. Wang
  • Publication number: 20160066798
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining hemodynamic properties in a sample of a subject are provided. A system obtains one or more spectral interference signals from the sample during one or more scans, separates the spectral interference signals concerning tissue motion, cell motion, and noise within the sample by decomposing the tissue motion, the cell motion, and the noise into orthogonal basis functions. The system then determines hemodynamic properties of the sample from the separated cell motion. The system and method may be used for diagnosing, providing a prognosis, or monitoring treatment of a disorder of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Ruikang K. WANG, Siavash YOUSEFI
  • Publication number: 20160007857
    Abstract: Systems and methods of forming optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of tissue near a cavity of subject are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming an image includes transmitting light pulses toward a region of interest near the cavity and receiving light backscattered from the region of interest using an imaging probe. The imaging probe includes a nosepiece configured to be at least partially received into the cavity. An image of the region of interest is formed using the backscattered light received from the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Woo June Choi
  • Publication number: 20160000368
    Abstract: The present technology relates generally to systems and methods for in vivo visualization of lymphatic vessels. A system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device and a computing device coupled to the OCT device configured to cause the OCT device to perform an OCT scan, generate image data in response to the OCT scan, and apply an eigendecomposition filter to the image data to produce processed image data. Alternatively or in addition, the computing device can compensate for scattering attenuation along an optical axis of the OCT scan in the image data set to generate compensated image data, enhance contrast of the compensated image data along a cross-section substantially orthogonal to the optical axis to generate contrast-enhanced image data, and identify at least one lymphatic vessel in the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Siavash Yousefi, Utku Baran
  • Publication number: 20150371401
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring tissue motion within a living tissue of the fundus of the eye, including the ONH, in a subject are provided. A phase-sensitive OCT using time-lapse B-scans is provided to measure movement of fundus tissue and isolate the ONH component of the tissue, allowing for accurate evaluation of pulse-induced ONH movement. Phase information from retina tissue near the ONH may further be used as a reference to compensate for bulk tissue movement artifact. Furthermore, images of a central retinal artery or a central retinal vein pulse from the subject may be used to define and correlate a pulsatile blood flow with the ONH tissue movement for examination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Ruikang K. WANG, Murray JOHNSTONE
  • Publication number: 20150230708
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining microvascular functions in a sample of a subject are provided. A system obtains one or more spectral interference signals from the sample during one or more scans, extracts data from the spectral interference signals concerning cell, tissue, or particle motion within the sample via one or more optical microangiography algorithms, and calculates volumetric properties from the data indicative of fluid motion within the sample. The system and method may be used for diagnosing, providing a prognosis, or monitoring treatment of a disorder of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Ruikang K. Wang, Murray Johnstone