Patents by Inventor Xin Hua Hu

Xin Hua Hu 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: 11647889
    Abstract: Systems for obtaining an image of a target are provided including at least one multi-wavelength illumination module configured to illuminate a target using two or more different wavelengths, each penetrating the target at different depths; a multi-wavelength camera configured to detect the two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target on corresponding different channels and acquire corresponding images of the target based on the detected two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target; a control module configured synchronize illumination of the target by the at least one multi-wavelength illumination module and detection of the two or more different wavelengths by the camera; an analysis module configured to receive the acquired images of the target and analyze the acquired images to provide analysis results; and an image visualization module modify the acquired images based on the analysis results to provide a final improved image in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, Jiahong Jin, Thomas Bruce Ferguson, Kenneth Michael Jacobs, Taylor Forbes, Bryent Tucker, Xin Hua Hu
  • Publication number: 20200305721
    Abstract: Systems for obtaining an image of a target are provided including at least one multi-wavelength illumination module configured to illuminate a target using two or more different wavelengths, each penetrating the target at different depths; a multi-wavelength camera configured to detect the two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target on corresponding different channels and acquire corresponding images of the target based on the detected two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target; a control module configured synchronize illumination of the target by the at least one multi-wavelength illumination module and detection of the two or more different wavelengths by the camera; an analysis module configured to receive the acquired images of the target and analyze the acquired images to provide analysis results; and an image visualization module modify the acquired images based on the analysis results to provide a final improved image in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Cheng Chen, JIAHONG JIN, THOMAS BRUCE FERGUSON, JR., KENNETH MICHAEL JACOBS, TAYLOR FORBES, BRYENT TUCKER, XIN HUA HU
  • Publication number: 20200294228
    Abstract: Systems for non-contact imaging measurement of blood oxygen saturation and perfusion in a sample are provided including a control unit configured to facilitate acquisition of data from a sample; a data acquisition module coupled to the control unit, the data acquisition module configured to illuminate a field of view (FOV) of the sample using a plurality of wavelengths to provide a plurality of images corresponding to each of the plurality of wavelengths responsive to control signals from the control unit; and an image processing module configured calculate image saturation parameters and reflectance for each of the plurality of images having a unique acquisition time and unique wavelength and extracting blood volume and oxygen saturation data in the FOV using the calculated image saturation parameters and reflectance for each of the plurality of images having a unique acquisition time and unique wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Xin Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9271658
    Abstract: A non-invasive method for measuring blood flow in principal vessels of a heart of a subject is provided. The method includes illuminating a region of interest in the heart with a coherent light source, wherein the coherent light source has a wavelength of from about 600 nm to about 1100 nm; sequentially acquiring at least two speckle images of the region of interest in the heart during a fixed time period, wherein sequentially acquiring the at least two speckle images comprises acquiring the at least two speckle images in synchronization with motion of the heart of the subject; and electronically processing the at least two acquired speckle images based on the temporal variation of the pixel intensities in the at least two acquired speckle images to generate a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) image and determine spatial distribution of blood flow rate in the principal vessels and quantify perfusion distribution in tissue in the region of interest in the heart from the LSCI image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Ferguson, Jr., Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9226673
    Abstract: Non-invasive methods for determining blood flow distribution in a region of interest are provided. The method includes illuminating a region of interest of a subject with a coherent light source; sequentially acquiring at least two speckle images of the region of interest, wherein sequentially acquiring the at least two speckle images comprises acquiring the at least two speckle images in synchronization with motion of the heart of the subject; and electronically processing the at least two acquired speckle images based on the temporal variation of the pixel intensities in the at least two acquired speckle images to generate a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) image, determine distribution of blood flow speed in principal vessels and quantify perfusion distribution in tissue in the region of interest from the LSCI image. The LSCI image enables detection of different blood flow speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Ferguson, Jr., Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9013692
    Abstract: A flow cytometer assembly includes a fluid controller configured to form a hydrodynamically focused flow stream including an outer sheath fluid and an inner core fluid. A coherent light source is configured to illuminate a particle in the inner core fluid. A detector is configured to detect a spatially coherent distribution of elastically scattered light from the particle excited by the coherent light source. An analyzing module configured to extract a three-dimensional morphology parameter of the particle from a spatially coherent distribution of the elastically scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Hu, Kenneth M. Jacobs, Jun O. Lu
  • Patent number: 8634077
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optically characterizing a turbid sample are provided. A structured light beam is impinged on the sample. The sample includes an embedded region. A reflected light image of the structured light beam is detected from the sample. A measured reflectance image of the structured light beam for the sample is determined based on the reflected light image and a reflectance standard. The following parameters are determined: absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and anisotropy factor g of the sample from the reflectance image. A size parameter of the embedded region is estimated based on the absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and/or anisotropy factor g of the sample from the measured reflectance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130245456
    Abstract: Non-invasive methods for determining blood flow distribution in a region of interest are provided. The method includes illuminating a region of interest of a subject with a coherent light source; sequentially acquiring at least two speckle images of the region of interest, wherein sequentially acquiring the at least two speckle images comprises acquiring the at least two speckle images in synchronization with motion of the heart of the subject; and electronically processing the at least two acquired speckle images based on the temporal variation of the pixel intensities in the at least two acquired speckle images to generate a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) image, determine distribution of blood flow speed in principal vessels and quantify perfusion distribution in tissue in the region of interest from the LSCI image. The LSCI image enables detection of different blood flow speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: East Carolina University
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Ferguson, JR., Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20130223705
    Abstract: A non-invasive method for measuring blood flow in principal vessels of a heart of a subject is provided. The method includes illuminating a region of interest in the heart with a coherent light source, wherein the coherent light source has a wavelength of from about 600 nm to about 1100 nm; sequentially acquiring at least two speckle images of the region of interest in the heart during a fixed time period, wherein sequentially acquiring the at least two speckle images comprises acquiring the at least two speckle images in synchronization with motion of the heart of the subject; and electronically processing the at least two acquired speckle images based on the temporal variation of the pixel intensities in the at least two acquired speckle images to generate a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) image and determine spatial distribution of blood flow rate in the principal vessels and quantify perfusion distribution in tissue in the region of interest in the heart from the LSCI image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: East Charles Boulevard
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Ferguson, JR., Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110286000
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optically characterizing a turbid sample are provided. A structured light beam is impinged on the sample. The sample includes an embedded region. A reflected light image of the structured light beam is detected from the sample. A measured reflectance image of the structured light beam for the sample is determined based on the reflected light image and a reflectance standard. The following parameters are determined: absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and anisotropy factor g of the sample from the reflectance image. A size parameter of the embedded region is estimated based on the absorption coefficients ÿa, scattering coefficient ÿs and/or anisotropy factor g of the sample from the measured reflectance image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Hu, Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20110090500
    Abstract: A flow cytometer assembly includes a fluid controller configured to form a hydrodynamically focused flow stream including an outer sheath fluid and an inner core fluid. A coherent light source is configured to illuminate a particle in the inner core fluid. A detector is configured to detect a spatially coherent distribution of elastically scattered light from the particle excited by the coherent light source. An analyzing module configured to extract a three-dimensional morphology parameter of the particle from a spatially coherent distribution of the elastically scattered light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Xin-Hua Hu, Kenneth M. Jacobs, Jun O. Lu
  • Patent number: 7920252
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for spectrophotometric characterization of turbid materials are provided. An incident light beam is used to illuminate a turbid material sample and optical signals of coherent reflectance, diffuse reflectance, collimated transmittance and diffuse transmittance are measured from the sample as functions of wavelength. The following optical parameters are determined as functions of wavelength for spectrophotometric characterization of the turbid material sample in the spectrum of interest: absorption coefficients ?a, scattering coefficient ?s, anisotropy factor g and real refractive index n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Xin Hua Hu
  • Publication number: 20090103085
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for spectrophotometric characterization of turbid materials are provided. An incident light beam is used to illuminate a turbid material sample and optical signals of coherent reflectance, diffuse reflectance, collimated transmittance and diffuse transmittance are measured from the sample as functions of wavelength. The following optical parameters are determined as functions of wavelength for spectrophotometric characterization of the turbid material sample in the spectrum of interest: absorption coefficients ?a, scattering coefficient ?s, anisotropy factor g and real refractive index n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Xin Hua Hu
  • Patent number: 5586981
    Abstract: According to the invention, a method is provided for disrupting the targeted lesion in skin, such as is necessary in treatment of vascular or pigmented lesions. A microplasma is generated in a target region of skin, the microplasma disrupting the skin ("plasma ablation") to enable removal of the targeted lesion. The microplasma absorbs radiation energy and expands, creating high pressure in the surrounding region which causes disruption of the targeted lesion in that region. A beam of pulsed laser radiation can be used to generate the microplasma by properly controlling the peak irradiance, the pulse duration and the focal spot size of the beam. The invention enables use of a laser having small pulse energy. A synchronized laser beam scan device can be used to scan the beam to provide a highly efficient system for rapid skin treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Xin-Hua Hu
    Inventor: Xin-Hua Hu