Patents by Inventor Tyler S. Ralston

Tyler S. Ralston 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: 20240120891
    Abstract: A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Publication number: 20240100565
    Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20240069181
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein related to controlling, using control circuitry, modulation circuitry to modulate and delay first ultrasound data generated by first ultrasound transducers positioned at a first azimuthal position of an ultrasound transducer array of an ultrasound device and second ultrasound data generated by second ultrasound transducers positioned at a second azimuthal position of the ultrasound transducer array of the ultrasound device, such that the first ultrasound data is delayed by a first delay amount and the second ultrasound data is delayed by a second delay amount that is different from the first delay amount. The first and second ultrasound data received from the modulation circuitry may be filtered and summed. The ultrasound transducer array, the control circuitry, the modulation circuitry, the filtering circuitry, and the summing circuitry may be integrated onto a semiconductor chip or one or more semiconductor chips packaged together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Nevada J. Sanchez, Liewei Bao, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11914079
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Tyler S. Ralston, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper
  • Publication number: 20240044846
    Abstract: An ultrasound device includes: ultrasonic transducer cavities; a membrane comprising a silicon layer that seals the ultrasonic transducer cavities; electrode regions configured to control vibration of the membrane; and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) substrate including integrated circuitry that is electrically coupled to the electrode regions. The ultrasonic transducer cavities are disposed between the membrane and the integrated circuitry along a vertical direction of the ultrasound device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11863133
    Abstract: A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11857368
    Abstract: A processing device is coupled to a single ultrasound device having a single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs). The processing device generates a graphical user interface (GUI) having user selectable GUI menu options corresponding to respective ultrasound operating modes for the single ultrasound device having the single ultrasound transducer array. The user-selectable GUI menu options include GUI menu options labeled as representing an ultrasound operating mode for musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, carotid imaging, vascular imaging, and abdominal imaging, respectively. The processing device further receives, via the GUI, user input indicating selection of one of the ultrasound operating modes, and in response to receiving the user input, provides an indication to the single ultrasound device having the single array of CMUTs to operate in the selected ultrasound operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife
  • Publication number: 20230417788
    Abstract: The present application discloses a measurement device incorporating a modular microfluidic system comprising standard modules which can be networked together via standardised connectors in a range of configurations. The measurement device includes a master microfluidic module connectable to an external pressure source, which has a socket for receiving a reagent cartridge, and can be used to drive flow of reagent from the reagent cartridge to an analysis chip. The master microfluidic module also has specialised pressure output and reagent input connectors which can be attached to secondary microfluidic modules, so that the master microfluidic modules can drive reagent from the secondary microfluidic modules to an analysis chip supported on the main microfluidic module. The application also describes a range of specialised cartridge types for use with the measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Oxford Nanoimaging Limited
    Inventors: Bo Jing, Armando Arpys Arevalo Carreno, Benjamin Thomas Whiteley, Issac Michael, Eric A. Warner, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11833542
    Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11828729
    Abstract: Micromachined ultrasonic transducers integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) substrates are described, as well as methods of fabricating such devices. Fabrication may involve two separate wafer bonding steps. Wafer bonding may be used to fabricate sealed cavities in a substrate. Wafer bonding may also be used to bond the substrate to another substrate, such as a CMOS wafer. At least the second wafer bonding may be performed at a low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Keith G. Fife, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Publication number: 20230366959
    Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11808897
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein related to controlling, using control circuitry, modulation circuitry to modulate and delay first ultrasound data generated by first ultrasound transducers positioned at a first azimuthal position of an ultrasound transducer array of an ultrasound device and second ultrasound data generated by second ultrasound transducers positioned at a second azimuthal position of the ultrasound transducer array of the ultrasound device, such that the first ultrasound data is delayed by a first delay amount and the second ultrasound data is delayed by a second delay amount that is different from the first delay amount. The first and second ultrasound data received from the modulation circuitry may be filtered and summed. The ultrasound transducer array, the control circuitry, the modulation circuitry, the filtering circuitry, and the summing circuitry may be integrated onto a semiconductor chip or one or more semiconductor chips packaged together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nevada J. Sanchez, Liewei Bao, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11808899
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for implementing a coding scheme on ultrasound signals received by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The coding, and subsequent decoding, may allow for multiple ultrasonic transducers to be operated in a receive mode simultaneously while still differentiating the contribution of the individual ultrasonic transducers. Improved signal characteristics may result, including improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Nevada J. Sanchez, Andrew J. Casper
  • Patent number: 11768282
    Abstract: Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multilevel pulser is described, which can provide bipolar pulses of multiple levels. The multilevel pulser includes a pulsing circuit and pulser and feedback circuit. Symmetric switches are also described. The symmetric switches can be positioned as inputs to ultrasound receiving circuitry to block signals from the receiving circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Kailiang Chen, Tyler S. Ralston, Keith G. Fife
  • Patent number: 11737665
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide improved techniques for imaging a subject's retina fundus. Some aspects relate to an imaging apparatus that may be substantially binocular shaped and/or may house multiple imaging devices configured to provide multiple corresponding modes of imaging the subject's retina fundus. Some aspects relate to techniques for imaging a subject's eye using white light, fluorescence, infrared (IR), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and/or other imaging modalities that may be employed by a single imaging apparatus. Some aspects relate to improvements in white light, fluorescence, IR, OCT, and/or other imaging technologies that may be employed alone or in combination with other techniques. Some aspects relate to multi-modal imaging techniques that enable determination of a subject's health status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Tesseract Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Ralston, Maurizio Arienzo, Owen Kaye-Kauderer, Benjamin Rosenbluth, Jonathan M. Rothberg, Lawrence C. West, Paul E. Glenn
  • Patent number: 11740302
    Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Hyperfine Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Hugon, Michael Stephen Poole, Tyler S. Ralston
  • Patent number: 11733363
    Abstract: Programmable ultrasound probes and methods of operation are described. The ultrasound probe may include memory storing parameter data and may also include a parameter loader which loads the parameter data into programmable circuitry of the ultrasound probe. In some instances, the ultrasound probe may include circuitry grouped into modules which may be repeatable and which may be coupled together to allow data to be exchanged between the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY Operations, Inc
    Inventors: Tyler S. Ralston, Andrew J. Casper, Nevada J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11712221
    Abstract: A system comprising a multi-modal ultrasound probe configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes associated with a respective plurality of configuration profiles; and a computing device coupled to the handheld multi-modal ultrasound probe and configured to, in response to receiving input indicating an operating mode selected by a user, cause the multi-modal ultrasound probe to operate in the selected operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife
  • Patent number: 11684949
    Abstract: CMOS Ultrasonic Transducers and processes for making such devices are described. The processes may include forming cavities on a first wafer and bonding the first wafer to a second wafer. The second wafer may be processed to form a membrane for the cavities. Electrical access to the cavities may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Keith G. Fife, Tyler S. Ralston, Gregory L. Charvat, Nevada J. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20230172582
    Abstract: A processing device is coupled to a single ultrasound device having a single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs). The processing device generates a graphical user interface (GUI) having user selectable GUI menu options corresponding to respective ultrasound operating modes for the single ultrasound device having the single ultrasound transducer array. The user-selectable GUI menu options include GUI menu options labeled as representing an ultrasound operating mode for musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, carotid imaging, vascular imaging, and abdominal imaging, respectively. The processing device further receives, via the GUI, user input indicating selection of one of the ultrasound operating modes, and in response to receiving the user input, provides an indication to the single ultrasound device having the single array of CMUTs to operate in the selected ultrasound operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Nevada J. Sanchez, Tyler S. Ralston, Christopher Thomas McNulty, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Matthew de Jonge, Keith G. Fife