Patents by Inventor Terry Fritz

Terry Fritz 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: 8771191
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement is calculated based on the location of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement may be adjusted for sloping or tapering of an artery wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Patent number: 7727153
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying various tissue structure aspects, such as boundaries of arterial walls, within an image, such as an ultrasound image. Various measurements may be made using information with respect to the identified aspects of tissue structure. For example, intima-media thickness measurements may be made. Additionally or alternatively, tissue structure aspects, such as plaque within an artery, may be characterized, such as by determining a density thereof. Various information, such as measurement datums, used in identification of aspects of tissue structure in one image may be stored and applied to subsequent images, such as images of a video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Patent number: 7561289
    Abstract: A method of editing a printed page comprises feeding a printed page into a multifunction printer with the printed page including text and at least one handwritten edit symbol. A first electronic printable file, which corresponds to the text of printed page, and at least one electronic edit symbol, which corresponds to the at least one handwritten edit symbol, are obtained via the multifunction printer. Via the multifunction printer, the first electronic printable file is electronically modified with at least one electronic edit instruction, which corresponds to the at least one electronic edit symbol, to create a second electronic printable file that includes the text modified according to the at least one handwritten edit symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Micheal Talley, Dana Jacobsen, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20070003306
    Abstract: It is determined whether a print job to be output on a color laser-printing device is to have reduced color toner usage. In response to determining that the print job is to have reduced color toner usage, the print job is adjusted so that the print job consumes less color toner when output on the color laser-printing device, by color-desaturating the print job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Dana Jacobsen, Terry Fritz, Michael Talley
  • Publication number: 20060117268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for graphical element selection with region of interest compression. The method includes determining a region of interest on a page and identifying a graphical element on the page. The method further includes associating the identified graphical element with the region of interest based on the position of the graphical element on the page relative to the region of interest and then generating a graphical element tag based on the association, wherein the graphical element tag is included in a region of interest enhanced page description. Finally the method includes compressing the page based on the region of interest enhanced page description using a regionally variable compression algorithm. In other configurations, methods of the invention are implemented by computer executable code stored to a computer readable media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Micheal Talley, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20060044463
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a digital camera (or image capture device) and thin, deformable image sensor that is flexed to correct for sensor deformities and/or lens aberrations. The image sensor has attachments (piezoelectric devices) on its rear surface. The deformable attachments are electrically coupled to processing circuitry comprising firmware that deforms the sensor by digitally controlling the respective deformable attachments to vary the flatness of the sensor. This allows for correction of field flatness and some other lens aberrations. The sensor may be tilted, or deformed into concave or convex shapes, for example, to correct for flatness irregularities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Micheal Talley, Dana Jacobsen, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20050119555
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement is calculated based on the location of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement may be adjusted for sloping or tapering of an artery wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20050114772
    Abstract: A method of editing a printed page comprises feeding a printed page into a multifunction printer with the printed page including text and at least one handwritten edit symbol. A first electronic printable file, which corresponds to the text of printed page, and at least one electronic edit symbol, which corresponds to the at least one handwritten edit symbol, are obtained via the multifunction printer. Via the multifunction printer, the first electronic printable file is electronically modified with at least one electronic edit instruction, which corresponds to the at least one electronic edit symbol, to create a second electronic printable file that includes the text modified according to the at least one handwritten edit symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Micheal Talley, Dana Jacobsen, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20050096528
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying various tissue structure aspects, such as boundaries of arterial walls, within an image, such as an ultrasound image. Various measurements may be made using information with respect to the identified aspects of tissue structure. For example, intima-media thickness measurements may be made. Additionally or alternatively, tissue structure aspects, such as plaque within an artery, may be characterized, such as by determining a density thereof. Various information, such as measurement datums, used in identification of aspects of tissue structure in one image may be stored and applied to subsequent images, such as images of a video sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20050007613
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a display panel, and a driver for the display panel. The driver controls the display panel. The driver displays a control panel display changeable by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Terry Fritz, Dana Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 6835177
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. An acquired image may be referenced, determining threshold values relating to the intensity of pixels forming images of portions of an artery wall, particularly the lumen, media, and adventitia. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Fritz, Helmuth Fritz
  • Patent number: 6817982
    Abstract: An apparatus, automated method technique and product for accurately determining the intima-media thickness of a blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Publication number: 20040116808
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. An acquired image may be referenced, determining threshold values relating to the intensity of pixels forming images of portions of an artery wall, particularly the lumen, media, and adventitia. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Terry Fritz, Helmuth Fritz
  • Publication number: 20030199762
    Abstract: An apparatus, automated method technique and product for accurately determining the intima-media thickness of a blood vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: SonoMetric Health, LLC
    Inventors: Helmuth Fritz, Terry Fritz
  • Patent number: 4874151
    Abstract: An adjustable gas pump trigger lever holding device is adapted to be secured to an automatic gas pump nozzle having an operator's handle, a trigger lever below the handle that is manually adjusted between a closed and open position to regulate fluid flow from the nozzle, and a trigger guard extending from the handle and surrounding the trigger. The holding device comprises a flexible strap having first and second ends, where the strap is adapted to extend in a loop around the nozzle handle and the trigger of the nozzle that has been manually adjusted to a desired position for a desired rate of fluid flow from the nozzle. The strap has coupling members at its opposite ends to releasably secure the ends of the strap together to form a loop having a desired peripheral length extending around the nozzle handle and adjusted nozzle trigger to maintain the trigger in its adjusted position for the desired rate of fluid flow from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Terry Fritz
  • Patent number: D452089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Inventor: Terry Fritz