Patents Issued in April 17, 2018
  • Patent number: 9943240
    Abstract: A non-invasive method for determining the tissue perfusion state in a patient, by measuring the variations in the skin CO2 pressure and in the perfusion index of the patient during the conducting of a localized hyperthermia test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Assistance Publique—Hopitaux de Paris
    Inventors: Fabrice Vallee, Joaquim Mateo, Didier Payen De La Garanderie
  • Patent number: 9943241
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals while a set of at least three electrodes are concurrently contacting a user. Additionally, various aspects of the present disclosure include determining a plurality of pulse characteristic signals based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted from one of the impedance-measurement signals and is used as a timing reference to extract and process another of the pulse characteristic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Physiowave, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent B. Giovangrandi, Gregory T. Kovacs, Robert Bruce Darling
  • Patent number: 9943242
    Abstract: In a system and computer implemented method for mapping of an anatomic structure and bi-directional activation detection of electrograms such as atrial and/or ventricular electrograms, both positive and negative deflections of an electrogram signal are analyzed over an analysis time period of the signal. At least one characteristic of the electrogram signal is determined based at least in part on analyzing both positive and negative deflections of the signal over the analysis time period. The determined at least one characteristic of the atrial electrogram signal is then associated with a generated three-dimensional model of the anatomic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Chin-Ann Yang, Valtino X. Afonso
  • Patent number: 9943243
    Abstract: Disclosed is a card type electrocardio measuring device, including: a circuit board (101), a main body bracket (102) and a back encapsulation; the circuit board (101) is arranged on the front of the main body bracket (102); the back encapsulation is arranged on the back of the main body bracket (102); the main body bracket (102) has a hollow shape, and electronic components on the circuit board (101) are respectively accommodated fitly between the back of the circuit board (101) and the back encapsulation, in a way of penetrating a hollow portion of the main body bracket (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BEIJING FINLTOP BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yaoxing Wang, Shaozhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9943244
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for detecting pathophysiological cardiac conditions. The system comprises a diagnostic device that contains electronic circuitry that can detect a cardiac event such as an acute ischemia. The cardiac diagnostic device receives electrical signals from subcutaneous or body surface sensors. The cardiac diagnostic device includes a processor that computes QRS onset and offset points and fiducial points associated with T and U waves. The processor than baseline corrects the original signal/waveform by fitting a polynomial function to QRS offset points, and subtracting this function from the original waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Angel Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Hopenfeld
  • Patent number: 9943245
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an impedance of a tissue region inside a body of a patient. A first guidewire is advanced into a tissue region of a body of a patient, wherein the first guidewire comprises one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the tissue region. A second guidewire is advanced into the body, wherein the second guidewire comprises one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the tissue region of the body of the patient and spaced from the first guidewire. An error correction electrode is electrically coupled to the body. A voltage is applied across the first and the second guidewires. The impedance of the tissue region between the first and the second guidewires is measured while using an electrical pathway created by the error correction electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Retrovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Ian Gu, Paul J. Lingane, Wayne Ogata, Steven Meyer, Alireza Yavari
  • Patent number: 9943246
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Scott B. Reeder, Diego Hernando
  • Patent number: 9943247
    Abstract: The systems, methods, and devices described herein generally relate to achieving accurate and robust motion correction by detecting and accounting for false movements in motion correction systems used in conjunction with medical imaging and/or therapeutic systems. In other words, in some embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices described herein can be configured to detect false movements for motion correction during a medical imaging scan and/or therapeutic procedure, and thereby ensure that such false movements are not accounted for in the motion correction process. Upon detection of false movements, the imaging or therapeutic system can be configured to transiently suppress and/or subsequently repeat acquisitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: The University of Hawai'i, The Queen's Medical Center
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Ernst, Brian Keating, Aditya Singh, Maxim Zaitsev, Michael Herbst
  • Patent number: 9943248
    Abstract: According to one of aspects, an electronic device used for a phone call includes: a sound input unit to which a sound is input during a phone call; and a sensor that is provided near the sound input unit and detects a substance contained in a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Hidaka
  • Patent number: 9943249
    Abstract: A respiratory gas monitor testing system having a respiratory gas monitor coupled to a system for detecting a leak, wherein the system for detecting a leak has a flowmeter in fluid communication with both an inlet and an outlet of the respiratory gas monitor, with the exhaust of the flowmeter venting to atmosphere; a restriction valve, a sample pressure sensor, a flowmeter valve configured to allow the flowmeter to either measure sample flow rate or leak rate, a flow-smoothing buffer configured to improve flow measurement accuracy, and a system for simulating human breath; wherein the system for simulating human breath at elevated airway pressure has an air source, a calibration gas source, a breath simulation valve, a calibration gas valve, a sample pressure sensor, an air reservoir, a pressurized bottle with a pressure regulator and an orifice, and an air pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Darryl Zitting, Joseph A. Orr, Brent Weight
  • Patent number: 9943250
    Abstract: A method and system for provoking gait disorders, such as freezing of gait; usable, for example, for diagnosing and/or treatment thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, displays of situations calculated to cause freezing of gait are presented to a subject, optionally using virtual reality displays. Optionally or alternatively, incipit freezing of gait is identified using changes in gait parameters, and optionally used to guide attempts at causing freezing of gait. Optionally or alternatively, a portable device is provided which detects incipit freezing of gait and generates a corrective signal to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Medical Research, Infrastructure amd Health Services Fund of the Tel Aviv Medical Center
    Inventors: Meir Plotnik-Peleg, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Nir Giladi, Anat Mirelman
  • Patent number: 9943251
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining stretch values and movement of body parts, e.g. a foot, by analyzing stretch data from a stretch sensor. By analyzing data from the stretch sensor it is possible to determine stretch samples which are associated with particular motion phases. Thereby the stretch values determined from the stretch samples have a particular physical meaning since they are associated with particular motion phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: Region Nordjylland, Ingeniørhøjskolen Aarhus Universitet
    Inventors: Ole Simonsen, Henrik Karstoft, Simon Lind Kappel, Dan Hermann, Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Peter Ahrendt
  • Patent number: 9943252
    Abstract: The present invention is both a device and a method for verifying a subject's identity while using a medical device or undergoing a medical diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, particularly at home or at a remote location. The method and device can be used for inpatient and remote sleep and signal analysis with biometric identification. The present invention is further related to the devices and sensors used in executing the method, and includes various embodiments of a method of inpatient and remote sleep analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Cleveland Medical Devices Inc.
    Inventor: Hani Kayyali
  • Patent number: 9943253
    Abstract: This invention describes methods of Audio Signal Personalized Enhancement for optimal listening to music. A combination of hearing test, audio signal compensation, and signal processing algorithms are implemented jointly in an audio Device. An audio signal is processed and tuned within the entire range of audible frequencies to actively compensate for both the characteristics of the listening device, and the specific hearing characteristics of the listener, resulting in a much improved music listening experience. A randomized self-test algorithm is used to analyze user's hearing ability in each ear within a preselected dynamic volume range at multiple frequencies spanning the audible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: INNOVO IP, LLC
    Inventor: Yair Raz
  • Patent number: 9943254
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a biological component estimating apparatus includes a first acquiring unit and a first estimating unit. The first acquiring unit acquires a scattering coefficient distribution image having each pixel specified with a scattering coefficient of a measurement target region of a biological body for light including a wavelength range in a near infrared range. The first estimating unit estimates an amount of change in a biological component based on the scattering coefficient distribution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideaki Okano
  • Patent number: 9943255
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring oxygen level of an environment. The method comprises receiving at least one image of the environment comprising plurality of users from a capturing device. Then, at least one region of interest of each of the plurality of users is detected in the at least one image. A video plethysmographic waveform is generated by analyzing the at least one region of interest. Further, Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation (SPO2) based on the video plethysmographic waveform is determined. Thereafter, oxygen level of the environment is determined by averaging the SPO2 level of each of the plurality of users. The determined oxygen level of the environment is compared with predefined oxygen level of the environment and an appropriate action is performed based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: WIPRO LIMITED
    Inventors: Panneer Selvam Jayaveera Pandian, Vinod Pathangay
  • Patent number: 9943256
    Abstract: Methods and systems for sensor calibration and sensor glucose (SG) fusion are used advantageously to improve the accuracy and reliability of orthogonally redundant glucose sensor devices, which may include optical and electrochemical glucose sensors. Calibration for both sensors may be achieved via fixed-offset and/or dynamic regression methodologies, depending, e.g., on sensor stability and Isig-Ratio pair correlation. For SG fusion, respective integrity checks may be performed for SG values from the optical and electrochemical sensors, and the SG values calibrated if the integrity checks are passed. Integrity checks may include checking for sensitivity loss, noise, and drift. If the integrity checks are failed, in-line sensor mapping between the electrochemical and optical sensors may be performed prior to calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Andrea Varsavsky, Xiaolong Li, Mike C. Liu, Yuxiang Zhong, Ning Yang
  • Patent number: 9943257
    Abstract: A syringe assembly for fluid collection includes a housing having a sidewall defining a hollow bore therein, and an elongate plunger with the distal end of the plunger forming a chamber within the hollow bore for containing a fluid therein. The plunger is adapted for slideable movement within the hollow bore between an initial position and a retracted position. The assembly includes a hub disposed at least partially within the hollow bore and at least partially supporting a cannula therewith. The hub is adapted to automatically transition from an initial position in which at least a portion of the cannula is disposed external to the housing, to a retracted position in which the cannula is fully shielded by the housing, upon transition of the elongate plunger from the initial position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Matthew L. Kolb
  • Patent number: 9943258
    Abstract: A safety blood-collection needle, comprising a needle base, a needle hub, a flexible tube, a straight needle, a straight needle shaft, and a needle head; the safety blood-collection needle further comprises a protective cover, a slider, a handle, and a position limiting mechanism; one end of the needle base is fixed and is in communication with the needle head; the slider movably sleeved on the needle base; the position limiting mechanism is arranged on the slider and needle base. The slider is arranged on the needle base and slides in order to cover the needle head, so that safety is greatly increased when handling the needle head following blood collection; the use of a spring-type needle head is avoided, thus reducing the suffering of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Shanghai Jinta Medical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chunyuan Mao
  • Patent number: 9943259
    Abstract: An analytical magazine is proposed, which comprises a plurality of analytical aids accommodated in chambers. The analytical magazine is arranged to be accommodated in at least two orientations in an analytical system. The analytical magazine is furthermore arranged to provide the analytical system, in the orientations, in each case with a plurality of analytical aids. At least one sampling movement can be executed by means of the analytical aids. The analytical magazine is arranged to make a remagazining of the analytical aids possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Kuhr, Hans List, Wilhelm Leichner, Uwe Kraemer
  • Patent number: 9943260
    Abstract: An alcohol consumption determination method includes detecting a plurality of effective frames of an input voice signal; detecting a difference in signal of within the original signal of each of the effective frames; detecting average energy of the original signal and average energy of the difference signal for each of the effective frames; and determining whether alcohol has been consumed based on a difference between the average energy of the original signal and the average energy of the difference between the signals for each effective frame. Accordingly, it is also possible to determine, from a remote location, whether a driver or an operator remote has consumed alcohol and the degree of inebriation by using a difference signal energy method using a voice signal, thus preventing an accident caused by a operation vehicles and machines under the influence of alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FOUNDATION OF SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY—INDUSTRY COOPERATION
    Inventors: Myung Jin Bae, Sang Gil Lee, Seong Geon Bae
  • Patent number: 9943261
    Abstract: A method performed by an apparatus for inducing a sound sleep to induce a sound sleep of an object who is sleeping includes: determining a first wake-up time of the object based on schedule information of the object; receiving bio-information of the object; determining a sleep state of the object from the bio-information of the object; changing the first wake-up time to a second wake-up time by taking into account the sleep state of the object; and outputting a wake-up alarm signal at the second wake-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Boo-keun Yoon, Jong-hee Han
  • Patent number: 9943262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a walking path guidance service based on measurement of a motion of a user, and there is provided a device for providing a walking path guidance service, the device including: a sensor unit for measuring a motion and position information of a user; a reference information creation unit for calculating an average walking speed using the measured motion and position information of the user; and a walking path guidance unit for creating a walking path from a starting point to a destination and calculating a time of arrival at the destination of the walking path according to the average walking speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SK PLANET CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwonho Lee, Seulmaro Jeon
  • Patent number: 9943263
    Abstract: A wrist watch style blood pressure monitor is configured to be mounted on a wrist of an examinee at ordinary times in order to measure and monitor blood pressure. The wrist watch style blood pressure monitor includes a blood pressure monitor main body which comprises a blood pressure display to display a blood pressure of the examinee. A band is coupled to the blood pressure display and is wound around the wrist of the examinee. An air chamber is provided at one side of the band and filled with air to compress a skin surface of the wrist. A pressure sensor is provided to measure the blood pressure from an aorta radialis when the air chamber compresses the aorta radialis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Charm Care Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9943264
    Abstract: A system and method for profiling electrical activity in smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract muscular of a patient are disclosed. The system includes electromyographic-sensing patches adapted for placement on the skin of the abdomen of the patient. Each patch has at least one bipolar electrode pair, or a multitude arranged in an array, and is enabled for communication of a signal indicative of a sensed electromyographic signal. The system further includes networked computing devices. The local patch device is configured for wireless communication between the EMG-sensing patches and a local computing device, to enable wireless transmission from the patch to the networked computing devices. The networked computing device is configured to process large aggregate collections of multi-hour or day signals received from the local computing device to yield diagnostically valuable physiological parameters of gastrointestinal smooth muscle electrical activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: G-Tech Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Axelrod, Anand Navalgund, Eric A. Hoffman, Uday Sankar Devanaboyina
  • Patent number: 9943265
    Abstract: A sensing assemblage for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a medium is disclosed to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The sensing assemblage comprises a transducer and a waveguide. The transducer is coupled to the waveguide at a first location. A reflective surface can be coupled to the waveguide at a second location. The reflective surface is configured to reflect energy waves away from the reflective surface. An interface material that is transmissive to acoustic energy waves can be placed between the transducer and a waveguide to improve transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Orthosensor Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Stein, James Ellis, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9943266
    Abstract: Heart rate monitors are plagued by noisy photoplethysmography (PPG) data, which makes it difficult for the monitors to output a consistently accurate heart rate reading. Noise is often caused by motion. Using known methods for processing accelerometer readings that measure movement to filter out some of this noise may help, but not always. The present disclosure describes an improved front-end technique (time-domain interference removal) based on using adaptive linear prediction on accelerometer data to generate filters for filtering the PPG signal prior to tracking the frequency of the heartbeat (heart rate). The present disclosure also describes an improved back-end technique based on steering the frequency of a resonant filter in order to track the heartbeat. Implementing one or both of these techniques leads to more accurate heart rate measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Adams, Sefa Demirtas, Jeffrey G. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9943267
    Abstract: Systems and methods for non-invasive respiratory rate measurement are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system comprises a wearable member including an energy transmitter configured to project energy into tissue of a user. An energy receiver generates a multichannel signal based on a first received portion of the energy, the received portion of energy being received through the tissue of the user. A respiratory rate calculation system includes a pre-processing module for filter noise from the signal. A spectrum module determines a spectrum of the signal. A respiratory rate processing module determines a first respiratory rate from the spectrum of the signal. A noise reference and one or more second respiratory rates are obtained. A third respiratory rate is determined based on the first respiratory rate, the noise reference, and the one or more second respiratory rates. A communication module provides a message based on the third respiratory rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Spry Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Elad Ferber, Pierre-Jean Cobut, Ramkrishnan Narayanan, Derya Gol Gungor
  • Patent number: 9943268
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of RFID chips affixed to a medical item, a data collection engine device, and a server device. The data collection engine wirelessly transmits power to a first one of the RFID chips and receives first medical data from the first RFID chip while the first RFID chip is activated by the power receiver. The data collection engine generates a first message indicative of the first medical data to be sent to the server device. The server device can determine aspects of the medical item such as position and risk states based upon the first medical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Brain Trust Innovations I, LLC
    Inventor: David LaBorde
  • Patent number: 9943269
    Abstract: A first medical device can receive a physiological parameter value from a second medical device. The second physiological parameter value may be formatted according to a protocol not used by the first medical device such that the first medical device is not able to process the second physiological parameter value to produce a displayable output value. The first medical device can pass the physiological parameter data from the first medical device to a separate translation module and receive translated parameter data from the translation module at the first medical device. The translated parameter data can be processed for display by the first medical device. The first medical device can output a value from the translated parameter data for display on the first medical device or an auxiliary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bilal Muhsin, Ammar Al-Ali, Massi Joe E. Kiani, Peter Scott Housel
  • Patent number: 9943270
    Abstract: A monitoring device operable to provide information on data obtained from sensors operably connected between a patient and the device is provided that includes a central processing unit configured to receive incoming data signals from sensors concerning physiological parameters of the patient to compare the incoming data signals to predetermined alarm limits for the physiological parameters to determine an alarm condition and an analytics engine operably connected to the central processing unit and selectively operable to provide predictions of adverse events using the incoming data signals. The central processing unit is configured to alter the alarm limits for at least one of the physiological parameters in response to the activation of the analytics engine to reduce clinically irrelevant alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce Arnold Friedman, Stephen Thomas Treacy, David Alan Sitzman, Michael John Palmer
  • Patent number: 9943271
    Abstract: A medical device is controlled as a function of a position of a control element projected onto a projection surface, wherein a geometric property of the projected control element is adjusted to the surface structure. The adjustment is accomplished by means of a transformation of projection data, the projection data corresponding to the control element that is to be projected. The optical projection of the control element is based on the transformed projection data. Such an adjustment and transformation are made possible by determining the surface structure of the projection surface. The control system has an image processor both for determining the surface structure and for transforming the projection data. The control system additionally has a projector for optically projecting the control element and a control unit for controlling the medical device based on the first position of the projected control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Dirauf, Thilo Hannemann, Anja Jaeger, Robert Kagermeier
  • Patent number: 9943272
    Abstract: Improved system and method of X-ray laser microscopy that combines information obtained from both X-ray diffraction and X-ray imaging methods. The sample is placed in an ultra-cold, ultra-low pressure vacuum chamber, and exposed to brief bursts of coherent X-ray illumination further concentrated using X-ray mirrors and pinhole collimation methods. Higher resolution data from a sample is obtained using hard X-ray lasers, such as free electron X-ray lasers, and X-ray diffraction methods. Lower resolution data from the same sample can be obtained using any of hard or soft X-ray laser sources, and X-ray imaging methods employing nanoscale etched zone plate technology. In some embodiments both diffraction and imaging data can be obtained simultaneously. Data from both sources are combined to create a more complete representation of the sample. Methods to further improve performance, such as concave or curved detectors, improved temperature control, and alternative X-ray optics are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Yiming Wang, Vincent Huang, Hanjie Zou, Eileen Guo, Ruibo Wu, Zhuotong Xian
  • Patent number: 9943273
    Abstract: A method of preparing a radioactive material to serve as a radiation source for an intra-lumen imaging capsule, including, receiving a radioactive substance having grains in powder form, forming a solid pellet wherein the grains of the radioactive substance are dispersed homogenously in the pellet and surrounded by less dense materials having lower radiation absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CHECK-CAP LTD.
    Inventors: Yoav Kimchy, Salah Hasoon
  • Patent number: 9943274
    Abstract: Radioimaging methods, devices and radiopharmaceuticals therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Limited
    Inventors: Benny Rousso, Shlomo Ben-Haim, Ran Ravhon, Yoel Zilberstein, Eli Dichterman, Simona Ben-Haim, Nathaniel Roth
  • Patent number: 9943275
    Abstract: A tomographic imaging system includes a source configured to irradiate an object; a first image sensor including a first semiconductor substrate having a first face upon which a monolithic first pixel array is located; and a gantry configured to hold the first image sensor and rotate the image sensor around the object about a first rotation axis, the first pixel array including a first plurality of pixels configured to receive light that travels through or from the object based on the irradiation, the first plurality of pixels of the first pixel array being arranged in one or more rows and a plurality of columns such that, a total number of the one or more rows is less than a total number of the plurality of columns, and the one or more rows extend in a first direction, the first image sensor being arranged such that an angle between the first direction and a second direction is greater than 45 degrees and equal to or less than 90 degrees, the second direction being a direction parallel to the rotation axis o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Makoto Shizukuishi
  • Patent number: 9943276
    Abstract: An X-ray detection module, an X-ray imaging apparatus, and a control method of an X-ray imaging apparatus include a movable X-ray irradiation module to irradiate an object with X-rays, an X-ray detection module including a movable X-ray detector to detect X-rays from the X-ray irradiation module, and a touch sensor device installed to the X-ray detection module and located in a movement direction of the X-ray detector to sense touch. If the touch sensor device senses a touch, at least one of the X-ray irradiation module and the X-ray detector is moved to a position where the touch is sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Wook Park, Woo Sup Han
  • Patent number: 9943277
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to detecting coronary stenosis through spatio-temporal tracking. Aspects include extracting a coronary artery tree from each of a sequence of angiogram images, creating a mean artery tree from the extracted coronary artery trees, and projecting the mean artery tree back onto each of the sequence of angiogram images to recover a complete coronary artery tree for each of the sequence of angiogram images. Aspects also include extracting one or more tubular sections from each of the sequence of angiogram images, estimating an arterial width for each of the one or more tubular sections from each of the sequence of angiogram images, and creating a spatio-temporal surface from the arterial widths of the one or more tubular sections over a time spanned by the sequence of angiogram images. Aspects further include detecting a minimum in the spatio-temporal surface and determining if the minimum is indicative of stenosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin B. Compas, Tanveer F. Syeda-Mahmood
  • Patent number: 9943278
    Abstract: A method for predefining a set of radioactive-emission measurement views, for radioactive-emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, the method being tailored to a specific body structure and optimized with respect to the information gained about the body structure and based on modeling body-structure, based on its geometry and anatomical constraints, which limit accessibility to the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Limited
    Inventors: Michael Nagler, Eli Dichterman, Yoel Zilberstien, Ran Ravhon, Omer Ziv, Benny Rousso, Shlomo Ben-Haim
  • Patent number: 9943279
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for weighting material density images based on the material imaged are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for dual energy imaging of a material comprises generating an odd material density image, generating an even material density image, applying a first weight to the odd material density image and a second weight to the even material density image, and generating a material density image based on a combination of the weighted odd material density image and the weighted even material density image. In this way, the image quality may be improved without increasing a radiation dosage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Jie Tang, Hewei Gao
  • Patent number: 9943280
    Abstract: A method of breast image reconstruction includes positioning a breast on an imaging system support plate, compressing the breast with a flexible paddle, obtaining imaging data, estimating a breast thickness profile by at least one of placing markers on the breast, performing an image-based analysis of the obtained data, using an auxiliary system, and performing a model-based computation. The three dimensional reconstruction including using a thickness profile of the breast surface in at least one of an iterative reconstruction, a filtered back-projection reconstruction, and a joint reconstruction performed using information obtained from an ultrasound scan. A non-transitory medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xin Wang, Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus, Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg Davis, Razvan Gabriel Iordache
  • Patent number: 9943281
    Abstract: Noise of a CT image is reduced with good accuracy by using noise information obtained from the CT image. An X-ray CT apparatus comprises a successive approximate reconstruction part that reconstructs a CT image for a reconstruction area of an imaging object from measured projection data obtained by an X-ray detection part of the X-ray CT apparatus, and successively corrects the CT image so that calculated projection data obtained by forward projection of the CT image performed by calculation and the measured projection data detected by the X-ray detection part become equal to each other. The successive approximate reconstruction part comprises a noise measurement part that calculates noise intensity in the CT image at least for a predetermined region of interest, and successively corrects the CT image of the region of interest by using the calculated noise intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Yamakawa, Shinichi Kojima, Yushi Tsubota
  • Patent number: 9943282
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an estimation unit, a noise reduction unit, and an output unit. The estimation unit estimates a scattered-ray component contained in a radiation image acquired by irradiating an object with a radiation, wherein the scattered-ray component originates from a scattered ray which is a radiation scattered in the object. The noise reduction unit reduces a noise component included in the radiation image in accordance with first noise information obtained from the radiation image and second noise information obtained from a scattered-ray reduction image obtained by reducing the scattered-ray component from the radiation image. The output unit outputs a correction image obtained by reducing the scattered-ray component and the noise component in the radiation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Katsumata
  • Patent number: 9943283
    Abstract: A CT system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the CT system includes a stationary part, including a stationary part, including a plurality of non-rotating components; a rotatable part configured to rotate about a system axis during operation, including at least one x-ray detector, the at least one x-ray detector being modular in design and including a plurality of detector modules, the detector modules each including a plurality of detector pixels; a wireless data transmission system, to transmit at least detector information relating to a measured x-ray radiation from the rotatable part to the stationary part, the wireless data transmission system including at least one radio unit with a transmitter/receiver and at least one radio antenna, integrated in a plurality of the detector modules, to transmit at least the detector information; and at least one radio unit including a radio antenna and a receiver/transmitter, arranged on the stationary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thorsten Ergler, Michael Hosemann
  • Patent number: 9943284
    Abstract: An information processing system including an information processing apparatus that receives captured radiographic images captured by a plurality of image capturing apparatuses each having a wireless communication function and a wired apparatus that connects to the information processing apparatus in a wired manner, the information processing system includes a setting unit that sets, in a case where one of the plurality of image capturing apparatuses is connected to the wired apparatus, the connected image capturing apparatus as a master unit of wireless communication, and a communication unit that receives, via the image capturing apparatus set as the master unit, a captured image of a different image capturing apparatus that is received through wireless communication by the image capturing apparatus set as the master unit from the different image capturing apparatus set as a slave unit of wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikazu Tamura, Akiya Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9943285
    Abstract: A disposable isolation/protective cover for a stethoscope comprising a bell, elongated connector body portion and two ear pieces wherein said isolation/protective cover is sealed on all sides except for the bottom permitting the stethoscope to be inserted therethrough; said cover material is made of acoustically transmitting and viral, bacterial and fluid impermeable material. A flap closes the stethoscope once inserted completely enclosing the stethoscope and preventing exposure of any kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Jeanette Behnke
  • Patent number: 9943286
    Abstract: A computerized method of adapting a presentation of ultrasonographic images during an ultrasonographic fetal evaluation. The method comprises performing an analysis of a plurality of ultrasonographic images captured by an ultrasonographic probe during an evaluation of a fetus, automatically identifying at least one location of at least one anatomical landmark of at least one reference organ or tissue or body fluid of the fetus in the plurality of ultrasonographic images based on an outcome of the analysis, automatically localizing a region of interest (ROI) in at least some of the plurality of ultrasonographic images by using at least one predefined locational anatomical property of the at least one anatomical landmark, and concealing the ROI in a presentation of the at least some ultrasonographic images during the evaluation. At least one anatomical landmark is imaged in the presentation and not concealed by the ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Tel HaShomer Medical Research Infrastructure and Services Ltd.
    Inventors: David Shashar, Reuven Achiron, Arnaldo Mayer
  • Patent number: 9943287
    Abstract: A backing block for an ultrasonic transducer array stack of an ultrasound probe is formed as a composite structure of graphite foam impregnated with an epoxy resin. The epoxy resin penetrates the porous foam structure at least part-way into the depth of the graphite foam block and, when cured, provides the backing block with good structural stability. The composite graphite foam backing block is bonded to the integrated circuit of a transducer to provide high thermal conductivity away from the transducer and good acoustic attenuation or scattering of rearward acoustic reverberations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Wojtek Sudol, Kevin Grayson Wickline, Yongjian Yu, Heather Beck Knowles, James Paolino, Richard Edward Davidsen
  • Patent number: 9943288
    Abstract: Methods and systems for ultrasound data processing are provided. One method includes acquiring channel ultrasound data from a plurality of channel connected to a plurality of elements of an ultrasound probe and storing the channel ultrasound data from the plurality of channels. The method further includes generating ultrasound images based on processing of the acquired channel ultrasound data and displaying the ultrasound images. The method also includes performing additional processing on the stored channel ultrasound data while the ultrasound images are displayed and displaying updated ultrasound images generated by the additional processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Morris Ziv-Ari, Arcady Kempinski, Alexander Sokulin
  • Patent number: 9943289
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound transducer array that receives a set of echo signals produced in response to an ultrasound signal traversing flowing structure in a portion of a tubular structure of an object or subject in an imaging field of view. An image processor processes the set of echo signals and generates a structure image. A color flow processor processes the set of echo signals and generates a color flow image indicative of a flow of the flowing structure in the portion of the tubular structure, including a flow direction and a flow magnitude of the flowing structure. A color flow corrector corrects the color flow image for at least one of color noise artifact or color flash artifact, producing a corrected color flow image. A video processor displays the structure image and the corrected color flow image superimposed over the structure image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: B-K Medical Aps
    Inventor: Bo Martins