Patents Issued in February 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9888851
    Abstract: In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ARC DEVICES, LTD
    Inventors: Irwin Gross, Michael G. Smith, Mark Khachaturian, Martin Crawley, Steven Gerst, John Barrett, Michael Cronin, Derek Turnbull, Jason Bodnick
  • Patent number: 9888852
    Abstract: In one implementation, an apparatus estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point is described, estimates temperature from a digital infrared sensor and determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer, or determines vital signs from a solid-state image transducer and estimates body core temperature from an infrared measurement of an external source point using a cubic relationship between the body core temperature and the measurement of an external source point; after which the estimated and/or determined information is transmitted to an external database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ARC DEVICES, LTD
    Inventors: Irwin Gross, Michael G. Smith, Mark Khachaturian, Martin Crawley, Steven Gerst, John Barrett, Michael Cronin, Derek Turnbull, Jason Bodnick
  • Patent number: 9888853
    Abstract: The provided are a method and system for monitoring one or more physiological characteristic based on WBAN. The method includes: an node of a micro-network for monitoring the human body acquires physiological characteristic information of the human body; and a hub of the micro-network for monitoring the human body recognizes at least one identifier for identifying a physiological status of the human body according to the acquired physiological characteristic information of the human body, and selects, according to the at least one identifier for identifying the physiological status of the human body, whether to send the physiological characteristic information of the human body to a medical monitoring system terminal via a wireless network or not. According to the method, sign information of the monitored human body may be mastered in first time to provide a strong basis for subsequent treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hua Cao
  • Patent number: 9888854
    Abstract: Provided is a biometric device including a light source unit arranged facing a first part on a surface of an organism and configured to irradiate the first part with excitation light, and a light-reception unit arranged facing a second part adjacent to the first part on the surface of the organism and configured to receive fluorescence light which is generated by the excitation light exciting a first body substance of the organism and emitted from the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 9888855
    Abstract: Provided is a reflection detection type measurement method for skin fluorescence. The method includes: irradiating excitation light on a measurement target; detecting a reflected light and a skin fluorescence generated from the measurement target due to the excitation light; irradiating light with a wavelength range of the skin fluorescence on the measurement target; detecting a reflected light generated from the measurement target due to the light with a wavelength range of the skin fluorescence; and calculating a skin fluorescence value of the measurement target by correcting a calculation based on the detected reflected light and skin fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTROTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Uk Kang, Garry V. Papayan
  • Patent number: 9888856
    Abstract: A photoacoustic wave induced in a subject to be examined by illumination of the subject to be examined with light is detected. A first photoacoustic image corresponding to a frequency component less than or equal to a predetermined frequency and a second photoacoustic image corresponding to a frequency component higher than a predetermined frequency are generated based on a detection signal of the detected photoacoustic wave. The first photoacoustic image and the second photoacoustic image are combined together by placing, on a pixel in the first photoacoustic image the pixel value of which is less than or equal to a threshold, a pixel in the second photoacoustic image corresponding to the pixel in the first photoacoustic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Tsujita
  • Patent number: 9888857
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for automatically configuring a mobile device for collecting and inferring heart rate data of a user. The method may include capturing heart rate data for a user with a heart rate sensor that is coupled with a mobile device. The method may also include monitoring a activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device, and detecting a constant activity state of the user. The method may also include inferring heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state. The method may also include providing the inferred heart rate data, as captured heart rate data, to a heart rate calculator during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramin Samadani, Radu Pitigoi-Aron, Justin Patrick McGloin
  • Patent number: 9888858
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide methods for detecting cardiac signals from head or facial biopotential sensors. In one embodiment, a facial biopotential signal is measured by a set of sensors. A processor derives a cardiac signal from the facial biopotential signal. Optionally, heart rate is detected from the cardiac signal. Heart rate variability may be determined and evaluated by the processor to generate warnings or messages from the evaluation. One or more head or facial biopotential electrodes for measuring the facial biopotential signal may be integrated in or at a contact surface of head support structures such as a headgear support or respiratory treatment mask. In some such embodiments a controller of a respiratory treatment apparatus may serve as a cardiac signal detector by processing the facial biopotential signal from the sensors and may make control adjustments or generate warnings based on an evaluation of detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Steven Paul Farrugia, Darius George Chapman
  • Patent number: 9888859
    Abstract: A stationary dilator includes one or more electrodes in the distal region that are rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the dilator. The one or more electrodes are operable to deliver electrical stimulation signals to tissue through which the dilator is passed. The stimulation signals can be used for determining nerve directionality and optionally nerve proximity during surgical procedures involving the presence of neural structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Spangler, Forrest Samuel
  • Patent number: 9888860
    Abstract: A map of cardiac activation wavefronts can be created from a plurality of mesh nodes, each of which is assigned a conduction velocity vector. Directed edges are defined to interconnect the mesh nodes, and weights are assigned to the directed edges, thereby creating a weighted directed conduction velocity graph. A user can select one or more points within the weighted directed conduction velocity graph (which do not necessarily correspond to nodes), and one or more cardiac activation wavefronts passing through these points can be identified using the weighted directed conduction velocity graph. The cardiac activation wavefronts can then be displayed on a graphical representation of the cardiac geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Dongfeng Han, Valtino X. Afonso, Chin-Ann Yang, Dennis J. Morgan, Carlo Pappone
  • Patent number: 9888861
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern identifying a biomarker in the presence of electrical stimulation. Various embodiments concern delivering electrical stimulation to a patient and sensing one or more signals while the electrical stimulation is being delivered, the one or more signals including data indicative of physiological activity. Various embodiments further include determining an intensity of the electrical stimulation and determining whether the data indicates the presence of a biomarker based on a variable threshold, the variable threshold being variable based on the intensity of the electrical stimulation. Various embodiments concern determining a relationship between stimulation intensity and a biomarker parameter to determine the variability of the variable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Carlson, Pedram Afshar, Timothy J. Denison, Jonathon E. Giftakis, David E. Linde, Scott R. Stanslaski
  • Patent number: 9888862
    Abstract: This invention relates to the determination and/or representation of physiological information relating to a heart surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Doron Harlev, Brian Stewart
  • Patent number: 9888863
    Abstract: A device for measuring an electrical impedance of biologic tissue may include electrodes configured to contact the biologic tissue and generate a differential voltage thereon. The device may include a first circuit coupled to the electrodes and configured to force an oscillating input signal therethrough, and a differential amplitude modulation (AM) demodulator coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The differential AM demodulator may be configured to demodulate the differential voltage, and generate a base-band signal representative of the demodulated differential voltage. The device may further include an output circuit downstream from the differential AM demodulator and may be configured to generate an output signal representative of the electrical impedance as a function of the base-band signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Pasquale Biancolillo, Stefano Rossi, Giuseppe Bruno, Angelo Recchia
  • Patent number: 9888864
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying a stimulation location on a nerve is disclosed. The system includes an image-based navigation interface used to facilitate advancing a stimulation element within a patient body toward a target nerve stimulation site. Using the system one determines, separately for each potential target nerve stimulation site, a neuromuscular response of muscles produced upon applying a stimulation signal at the respective separate potential target stimulation sites. The image-based navigation interface is configured to display a graphic identification of which muscles were activated for each respective potential target nerve stimulation site upon applying the stimulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Rondoni, Mark A. Christopherson, Quan Ni
  • Patent number: 9888865
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ESAOTE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Trequattrini, Fabio Rezzonico, Eugenio Biglieri, Luigi Satragno
  • Patent number: 9888866
    Abstract: Accurate AR method for extracting respiratory rates directly from a pulse oximeter and accurate methods of extracting respiratory rates directly from a pulse oximeter under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ki H. Chon, Jinseok Lee
  • Patent number: 9888867
    Abstract: A medical mouthpiece may include a generally U-shaped member forming a lateral interocclusal passageway extending from an anterior aperture to a posterior aperture configured to provide a conduit for respiratory gas exchange. A medical mouthpiece may include a sampling port for fluid communication with an analyzing apparatus configured to analyze exhaled respiratory gases. A medical mouthpiece may include a supplemental gas conduit for fluid communication between a source of supplemental gas and a supply orifice. A method for delivering a gas to a patient may include delivering a gas to the patient through a mouthpiece having a lateral interocclusal passageway such that the gas is delivered through a posterior aperture to a space adjacent the patient's posterior oropharynx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AIRWAY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Hestness, Robert Moore
  • Patent number: 9888868
    Abstract: A sensor system and method configured to take multiple channels of sensors, and based on context and user behavior reflected in the signals, identifies specified channels for sensing according to a sensing policy. The sensing policy is used to reduce the amount of data sampled, such that it is possible to reconstruct the values of the non sampled sensors efficiently. The sensing policy is influenced by user and system's behavior and can be assigned either offline or in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Majid Sarrafzadeh, Miodrag Potkonjak, Foad Dabiri, Hyduke Noshadi, Saro Meguerdichian
  • Patent number: 9888869
    Abstract: An apparatus for neural block determination is provided including processing circuitry configured to receive muscle movement measurements, analyze the muscle movement measurements in a frequency domain, and determine an effectiveness of an anesthetic based on the analysis of the muscle movement measurements in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Wayne I. Sternberger, Robert S. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 9888870
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to intrapleural air leak detection and monitoring. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an air leak may be detected utilizing at least one sensor to determine whether fluid extracted from a pleural cavity of a patient includes carbon dioxide and/or a second substance. The second substance may be a foreign substance inhaled by the patient to confirm presence of the air leak. The air leak may be further monitored over a period of time by collecting temporally successive measurements associated with detected concentrations of carbon dioxide. Therefore, tissue damage and recovery may be assessed according to objectively collected criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Dimitrios Miserlis, Kim Cluff, Abby M. Kelly, Suzanne J. Higgins, Max H. Twedt
  • Patent number: 9888871
    Abstract: A physiological monitoring system may receive a sensor signal from a physiological sensor. The system may determine a first and second change metric based on the sensor signal, and may determine a venous signal based on the change metrics. In some embodiments, the sensor signal may be a photoplethysmograph signal that includes both arterial and venous information. By subtracting a second change metric from a first change metric, arterial contributions may be substantially removed, resulting in a signal primarily comprising venous information. The venous signal may be indicative of changes in the venous blood, and may be used to determine a physiological parameter, for example, blood pressure. The venous signal may also be used to trigger an event, for example, calibration of a blood pressure measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: James N. Watson, Paul S. Addison
  • Patent number: 9888872
    Abstract: A sensor head for a compact oximeter sensor device includes light sources and light detectors. A compact oximeter sensor device implementation is entirely self-contained, without any need to connect, via wires or wirelessly, to a separate system unit. The sources and detectors are arranged in a circular arrangement having various source-detector pair distances that allow for robust calibration and self-correction in a compact probe. Other source-detector arrangements are also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kate LeeAnn Bechtel, Brian Wilfley
  • Patent number: 9888873
    Abstract: A NIRS sensor assembly includes a light source, a light detector, a first insulating layer, an EMI shielding layer, and a second insulating layer. The first insulating layer covers an exposed portion of the light detector. An optically transparent portion of the first insulating layer is aligned with an active area of the light detector. The EMI shielding layer covers the first insulating layer. An optically transparent portion of the EMI shielding layer is aligned with the active area of the light detector. The second insulating layer covers the EMI shielding layer and the first insulating layer. An optically transparent portion of the second insulating layer is aligned with the active area of the at least one light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: CAS Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Dalene, Karen Duffy, John Gamelin, Paul Benni, William Kosturko
  • Patent number: 9888874
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stimulus presentation system which determines a mental state and changes presentation contents of a problem based on the determined mental state. The system determines the mental state by measuring gaze and cerebral function of a user, and changes presentation contents of a problem based on the determined mental state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Nakajima, Hiroki Sato, Takushige Katsura, Hirokazu Atsumori, Tsukasa Funane
  • Patent number: 9888875
    Abstract: A driver monitoring system recognizes a state of a driver and determines a recognition stability. When the recognition stability is less than a predetermined reference value, the driver monitoring system makes a request to the driver to perform a different action that is different from an action requested when the recognition stability is not less than the reference value and detects an action of the driver that responds to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuhiro Omi
  • Patent number: 9888876
    Abstract: The present invention, referred to as Oasis is Automated Statistical Inference for Segmentation (OASIS), is a fully automated and robust statistical method for cross-sectional MS lesion segmentation. Using intensity information from multiple modalities of MRI, a logistic regression model assigns voxel-level probabilities of lesion presence. The OASIS model produces interpretable results in the form of regression coefficients that can be applied to imaging studies quickly and easily. OASIS uses intensity-normalized brain MRI volumes, enabling the model to be robust to changes in scanner and acquisition sequence. OASIS also adjusts for intensity inhomogeneities that preprocessing bias field correction procedures do not remove, using BLUR volumes. This allows for more accurate segmentation of brain areas that are highly distorted by inhomogeneities, such as the cerebellum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: The Johns Hopkins University, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Ciprian Crainiceanu, Arthur Jeffrey Goldsmith, Dzung Pham, Daniel S. Reich, Navid Shiee, Russell T. Shinohara, Elizabeth M. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 9888877
    Abstract: In a method, an evaluation computer, and a medical imaging apparatus for evaluating medical images of an organ system of an examination subject, wherein the organ system has a first side and a second side that are characteristically bilaterally symmetrical to one another, first and second medical image datasets of the organ system of the examination subject are acquired and processed to obtain a result image dataset by a global image data subtraction in which image components of the first and second medical image data are subtracted from one another, and a symmetry subtraction in which image components of the first side and the second side of the organ system are subtracted from one another within a medical image dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9888878
    Abstract: An intelligent monitor of erectile function, including a pair of underpants equipped with a mechanical device operating to monitor a penile axial length, a penile radial length, and a penile volume; a temperature detector operating to detect a penile temperature; an oxygen saturation measuring device operating to measure a penile oxygen saturation; an integrated circuit chip operating to receive and process output signals from the mechanical device, the temperature detector, and the oxygen saturation measuring device; and a data storage device. The mechanical device, the temperature detector, and the oxygen saturation measuring device are electrically or electronically connected to the integrated circuit chip. The data storage device is electrically or electronically connected to the integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jiuhong Yuan, Feng Qin
  • Patent number: 9888879
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest. An energy emitter is used to direct an energy signal with an energy signal electric field strength toward the region of interest, wherein the region of interest has an object of interest, a reference, and a boundary between the object of interest and the reference. Next, a thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducer is used to receive a thermoacoustic bipolar signal from the boundary, wherein the thermoacoustic bipolar signal is induced by the energy signal. Finally, a machine is used to accept data from the energy emitter and thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducer, correlate the thermoacoustic bipolar signal to an electric field strength of the reference at the boundary to generate a corrected thermoacoustic bipolar signal at the boundary, and calculate a fat concentration of the object of interest as a function of the corrected thermoacoustic bipolar signal at the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ENDRA LIFE SCIENCES INC.
    Inventors: Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
  • Patent number: 9888880
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest. An energy emitter is used to direct an energy signal toward the region of interest, wherein the region of interest has an object of interest, a reference, and a boundary area with one or more boundary locations between the object of interest and the reference. Next, a plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers is used to receive a plurality of thermoacoustic bipolar signals from the one or more boundary locations, wherein the thermoacoustic bipolar signals are induced by the energy signal. A machine configured to accept data from the energy emitter and the plurality of thermoacoustic or ultrasonic transducers and calculate a fat concentration that is a function of the thermoacoustic bipolar signal at each respective boundary location and the distance or distances between locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ENDRA LIFE SCIENCES INC.
    Inventors: Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
  • Patent number: 9888881
    Abstract: Methods and structures for detecting a physiologic parameter of a target anatomical environment. The device including a housing with a distal portion first port couplable to a probe and a proximal portion; and a sensing unit, a processing unit, and an output unit carried by the housing, the output unit configured to output a reporting signal based on the determined physiologic parameter value such as pressure; the sensing unit, processing unit, and output unit being disposed substantially between the first port and the proximal portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mirador Biomedical
    Inventors: Justin Hulvershorn, Karl Schmidt, Douglas Swartz
  • Patent number: 9888882
    Abstract: A method of brain wave analysis is to be implemented using a brain wave measuring instrument and a medical device. The method includes transmitting a nerve stimulation signal to cerebrum of a patient, measuring the nerve stimulation signal through the body of the patient so as to obtain discharge time information, measuring a brain wave signal from a head portion of the patient, obtaining energy distribution information according to the brain wave signal, and calculating behavior information according to the discharge time information and the energy distribution information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Advanced Sterilization Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng-Chieh Wu, Wen-Hsuan Liao, Wei-Hsuan Liao, Yung-Ting Kuo
  • Patent number: 9888883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor device for measuring tensile variation against a membrane separating a liquid such as the skin on humans and animals and any other membrane separating a liquid on one of its sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MECSENSE AS
    Inventors: Olav Ellingsen, Bjarte Sorebo Ellingsen
  • Patent number: 9888884
    Abstract: A digital processor system obtains at least one time-domain signal representing brain activity and at least one time-domain signal representing heart activity, each having a time-varying signal value. The system produces representations of a plurality of acoustic signals, each of which corresponds to a respective time-domain signal and is produced by concurrently generating a plurality of acoustic parameters, including a plurality of time-varying acoustic parameters. One or more of the plurality of time-varying acoustic parameters is modulated in accordance with at least the signal value of the respective time-domain signal. Each representation of an acoustic signal of the plurality of acoustic signals is further produced by combining the concurrently generated plurality of acoustic parameters to produce the representation of the acoustic signal corresponding to the respective time-domain signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Christopher D. Chafe, Josef Parvizi
  • Patent number: 9888885
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a terminal body that is wearable on a part of a user's body. A wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal connects to an e-Call system of a vehicle and receives information related to a state of the vehicle. A detecting unit of the mobile terminal detects a biometric signal of the user that is sensed by at least one sensor provided in the terminal body. A controller is configured to, based on an accident event of the vehicle being detected from the received information related to the state of the vehicle, analyze the detected biometric signal to obtain state information of the user. Based on a predetermined condition being satisfied, the controller cooperates with the e-Call system of the vehicle and transmits the obtained state information of the user and the information related to a state of the vehicle to a call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungje An, Kwangjae Lee, Seungman Kim
  • Patent number: 9888886
    Abstract: A rotor of a computed tomography apparatus has a rotatable mechanical support frame for mechanical retention of electrical components and electrical connection elements for electrical connection with electrical components of the computed tomography apparatus, with the electrical connection elements arranged in at least one backplane bus. A rotating unit and a computed tomography apparatus embody such a rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Distler, Sultan Haider, Hans-Juergen Mueller
  • Patent number: 9888887
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes: an X-ray tube which generates X-rays to be irradiated at an object; an X-ray diaphragm which houses an X-ray shielding member forming an irradiation aperture, through which the X-rays pass, along a side surface of the X-ray tube; an X-ray detector which detects X-rays passing through the object; and an image data generation circuitry which generates image data based on the X-rays detected by the X-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kojima, Yoshiyuki Sato, Katsuaki Shinoda, Shinsuke Ooie
  • Patent number: 9888888
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray source, a plurality of lead plates, attention position specifying circuitry, stop control circuitry. The X-ray source generates X-rays. The plurality of lead plates includes an aperture which narrows an irradiation range of X-rays with which an object is irradiated by the X-ray source. The attention position specifying circuitry specifies an attention position based on a line of sight of an observer. The stop control circuitry performs movement control of the plurality of lead plates based on the specified attention position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Kobayashi, Satoru Ohishi, Shumpei Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9888889
    Abstract: An interventional medical diagnosis and/or therapy system is provided. The system provides an interventional imaging system and method which allows for an intervention, to be conducted in accordance with an intervention plan, to be supported and monitored by ongoing imaging, in particular radioscopy, with which, at the same time the effort in calibration and registration is kept low, and which functions without an additional location system. The interventional imaging system includes an imaging device to record intervention data of a body, at least two position markings, capable of being recorded with the imaging device, for the marking of an intervention instrument, a display apparatus to reproduce recorded intervention data and position markings, a navigation facility connected to the display apparatus to load pre-intervention data of the body, in which an intervention location of the body is contained, and for the mutual registration of the pre-intervention data with the intervention data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Hartkens, Thomas Redel
  • Patent number: 9888890
    Abstract: A filter arrangement is described. The filter arrangement includes an inner filter region, covering a cross-sectional area of a fan beam of a first X-ray source, and an outer filter region covering, together with the inner filter region, a larger cross-sectional area of a larger fan beam of a second X-ray source. The inner filter region has a first spectral filter function. The outer filter region is divided into a first subregion having a second spectral filter function and a second subregion having a third different spectral filter function. A computed tomography system is described. A method for producing a filter arrangement for a spectral filtering of X-ray radiation of a CT system having a first X-ray source and a second X-ray source is also presented. A method for reconstructing image data on the basis of projection measurement data is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Flohr, Bernhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9888891
    Abstract: The application relates to an X-ray imaging unit for a medical imaging. The unit comprising a rotating part comprising a first X-ray source and an X-ray imaging detector unit configured to provide an image by means of at least a rotational movement (R) around a rotation axis of the rotating part, and an upper shelf for supporting the rotating part. The upper shelf is configured to enable the rotating part to move with respect to the upper shelf by means of a linear movement (L) and to be attached to a column with a pivoting joint for enabling a pivot movement (P) of the upper shelf around the column. The rotating part is configured to be positioned by the linear movement and the pivot movement during the imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PaloDEx Group Oy
    Inventors: Esa Suuronen, Sami Vartiainen
  • Patent number: 9888892
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus according to this embodiment includes a display for displaying an image and a processing circuitry which calculates an incident dose on a body surface of an object, superposes information based on the calculated incident dose on a three-dimensional image which is a three-dimensional image relating to the object and is capable of rotating display at a corresponding position on the body surface of the object and causes the three-dimensional image on which the information is superposed to be displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Abe, Satoru Ohishi
  • Patent number: 9888893
    Abstract: In a method and tomosynthesis apparatus for combined dual-energy mammography and tomosynthesis imaging of a predetermined volume of an examination subject, while contrast agent is flowing through the volume, an x-ray source is set to radiate x-rays at low and high radiation energy. A pre-shot of the volume is obtained with the high radiation energy, and recording parameters for high-energy images, low-energy images, and low-energy tomosynthesis scans are obtained from the pre-shot. A high-energy image is then obtained, followed by operating the x-ray source at a low energy, and a low-energy tomosynthesis scan of the volume is executed using the recording parameters, and a two-dimensional low-energy image of the volume is generated during the low-energy tomosynthesis scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mathias Hoernig
  • Patent number: 9888894
    Abstract: Acquisition of X-ray transmission data at three or more energy levels is described. Various implementations utilize generator waveforms that utilize fast-switching, slow-switching, or a combination of fast- and slow-switching to transition between X-ray energy levels. In addition, various sampling arrangements for sampling and/or binning three or more energy levels of X-ray transmission data are discussed. The use of these data in subsequent processing steps, such for material decomposition and/or improvement of dual-energy material decomposition processing, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Uwe Wiedmann, Peter Michael Edic, Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Naveen Stephan Chandra, Jed Douglas Pack, Yannan Jin, Denis Perrillat-Amede, Jean-Francois Larroux
  • Patent number: 9888895
    Abstract: In an angiographic examination method to implement rotational angiographies, two x-ray projections of the examination subject are acquired from different acquisition angles, the x-ray projections are segmented to generate the outer contours of the examination subject in both x-ray projections, the outer contours of the examination subject are discretized in both x-ray projections, the coordinates of the focal points of the examination subject are calculated from these discrete points in both x-ray projections, the deviations of the coordinates of the focal points of the examination subject are determined, the deviations of the coordinates are evaluated, and the results of the evaluation are emitted as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Klingenbeck
  • Patent number: 9888896
    Abstract: A three-dimensional model dataset of a blood vessel system of a patient including at least one the vessel system is determined from a number of projection images, which have been recorded from different recording angles, of the blood vessel system The projection images are divided up into image areas each containing at least one pixel. A feature vector is determined for each of the image areas. Classification information, which describes how the respective image area belongs or does not belong to a vessel segment of the blood vessel system defined in accordance with anatomical specification data, is defined for each of the image areas by applying a classification function to the feature vector assigned to the image area. The classification function has been trained by training data records annotated with classification information obtained from at least one person other than the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günter Lauritsch, Thomas Redel, Christopher Rohkohl, Michael Scheuering
  • Patent number: 9888897
    Abstract: Methods of imaging a breast comprising acquiring a sequence of image data sets having differing exposure parameters; and combining the image data sets into a mammography image having greater dynamic range than the dynamic range of any single component image data set. Disclosed methods may further comprise determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets prior to acquiring the sequence of image data sets. The step of determining an exposure parameter of one or more component image data sets may comprise determining exposure duration or an exposure irradiation level. Also disclosed are mammography apparatus and systems to obtain images according to the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dexela Limited
    Inventors: Edward Bullard, Spencer Gunn, James Brodrick, Hamdan Amin
  • Patent number: 9888898
    Abstract: The X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray emitting device, an X-ray detection device, a fluoroscopic image generating unit, a calcified region detection unit and a display control unit. The fluoroscopic image generating unit generates a plurality of frames of fluoroscopic images of an object on a basis of detected X-rays in sequence. The calcified region detection unit detects a calcified region on each of the fluoroscopic images in sequence. The display control unit superimposes a calcified region image on a position of the calcified region on each of the fluoroscopic images in sequence, the calcified region image including a calcified region on a pre-acquired CT image or MR image of the object, and displays resulting images on a display device in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Imagawa, Takuya Sakaguchi, Ryuji Zaiki
  • Patent number: 9888899
    Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment includes an X-ray generating device, an X-ray detector, an image generation device, a display device, a portion detection device, and an attenuation device. The X-ray generation device generates X-rays to irradiate an object. The X-ray detector detects X-rays transmitted through the object. The image generation device generates an X-ray image based on the detected X-rays. The display device displays the X-ray image. The portion detection device detects an exposure dose reduction target portion based on the X-ray image. The attenuation device attenuates the X-rays to irradiate a region including the detected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Shimizu, Manabu Tanaka, Teruomi Gunji, Takayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9888900
    Abstract: A dose measured from region information, X-ray information, and a captured image in a previous imaging operation and a dose of radiation obtained from a DAP meter are saved as pieces of information. A dose used in a first imaging operation is based on the saved pieces of information, and a dose to be used in a second imaging operation is estimated from region information or X-ray information in the second imaging operation. If there is a significant difference between the dose in the first imaging operation and the estimated dose for the second imaging operation, a warning is issued. If an image of a region is captured for testing purposes, a warning is not issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirohide Tachikawa