Patents Issued in October 18, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180296166
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a pair of earbuds, each earbud configured to be positioned within a respective ear of a subject, a band connecting the pair of earbuds, and a plurality of sensor elements located at respective locations on the band, wherein each of the plurality of sensor elements are configured to obtain physiological information from a respective different region of a body of the subject when the earbuds are positioned within the ears of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Jesse Berkley Tucker, Michael Edward Aumer
  • Publication number: 20180296167
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating display of cardiac information based on sensed electrical signals include a processing unit configured to receive a set of electrical signals; receive an indication of a measurement location corresponding to each electrical signal of the set of electrical signals; and generate an activation waveform corresponding to the set of electrical signals. Systems and methods disclosed herein may be configured to generate, based on the activation waveform, a representation of a cardiac electrical signal feature; and facilitate presentation, on a display device, of a cardiac map and the representation of the cardiac electrical signal feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Stewart, Nathan H. Bennett, Mordechai Perlman, Vasiliy E. Buharin
  • Publication number: 20180296168
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining physiological information in a subject. The system includes: a light source positionable along a first location outside of the subject; a photo-sensitive detector positionable along a second location outside of the subject and configured to detect scattered light and generate a signal; a processor having a program and a memory, wherein the processor is operably coupled to the detector and configured to receive and store the signals generated over a period of time; wherein the processor is programmed to derive contrast metrics from the stored signals, calculate a waveform from the contrast metrics, decompose the waveform into basis functions and respective amplitudes, and compare the basis function amplitudes to determine the physiological information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Tyler Bywaters Rice, Michael Ghijsen, Bruce J. Tromberg, Bruce Yee Yang, Sean Michael White
  • Publication number: 20180296169
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry sets a first region of interest in a region corresponding to cardiac muscle on a cross-section of a heart included in image data. The processing circuitry further sets a second region of interest that is larger than the first region of interest in a region including the region. The processing circuitry determines a threshold for determining a range of signal values used for blood flow dynamic analysis on the image data based on a frequency distribution of signal values in the first region of interest. The processing circuitry carries out blood flow dynamic analysis on the second region of interest using signal values included in a range based on the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation, FUJITA ACADEMY
    Inventors: Takashi ICHIHARA, Yoshihiro IKEDA, Takuya SAKAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180296170
    Abstract: Information of constituent substances of an object is reconstructed with high accuracy without being influenced by a decrease in measurement accuracy even if measurement in which a tube voltage is changed is not performed. A CT apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to obtain measurement information based on a detection result of radiation irradiated based on a constant tube voltage; an obtaining unit configured to obtain second measurement information of the radiation based on a moment of the measurement information obtained by detecting the radiation a plurality of times; a classification unit configured to classify an object into a plurality of substances; and a reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct the information of the constituent substances of the object based on the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jumpei Shirono
  • Publication number: 20180296171
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to obtain measurement information based on a detection result of radiation irradiated based on a constant tube voltage; an obtaining unit configured to obtain second measurement information of the radiation based on a moment of the measurement information obtained by detecting the radiation multiple times; an energy determination unit configured to determine a plurality of energies for approximating an energy distribution of the radiation; and a calculation unit configured to calculate photon counts corresponding to the plurality of energies based on the second measurement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jumpei Shirono
  • Publication number: 20180296172
    Abstract: A system for cone beam computed tomography of an extremity has an x-ray source and a digital radiographic detector both revolved about a central imaging axis so that the detector moves at least partially around a first extremity of a patient and, if the extremity is the leg of the patient, the detector moves between the legs of the patient. The detector path has a radial distance less than that of the source path. A housing that encloses the source and detector includes a pivoting door to allow sideways access for the patient's leg to be placed at the central imaging axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: John YORKSTON, Robert J. ASENTO, Jeffrey H. SIEWERDSEN, David H. FOOS
  • Publication number: 20180296173
    Abstract: A system of shields designed to provide substantially greater protection, head to toe, against radiation exposure to health care workers in a hospital room during procedures which require real-time imaging. The shields are placed around the patient and the x-ray table and provide protection even when the x-ray tube is moved to various angles around the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Egg Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Wilson, Uma S. Valeti, John P. Gainor
  • Publication number: 20180296174
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated arm of an imaging device. In one example, an imaging system may comprise: a base unit; a C-arm coupled to the base unit and including an x-ray source and detector positioned on opposite ends of a C-shaped portion of the C-arm; and a display monitor attached to the C-arm via an integrated arm, wherein the display monitor is movable between a first position on a first side of the C-arm, to a second position on a second side of the C-arm by traveling over a top of an upper half of the C-shaped portion. In this way, the integrated arm may provide a simplified means of orienting the display monitor while promoting better performance of the imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: David Ellis Barker, Mingtao Liu, Cong Peng, Samuel Lee Alder
  • Publication number: 20180296175
    Abstract: A check valve assembly is configured to couple to a first container that retains a first fluid and a second container that retains a second fluid. The check valve includes a fluid inlet housing including a first fluid inlet port defining a first fluid inlet channel, and a second fluid inlet port defining a second fluid inlet channel. A fluid outlet housing is coupled to the fluid inlet housing. The fluid outlet housing includes a fluid outlet port defining a fluid outlet channel. A first diaphragm is seated over the first fluid inlet channel. At least a portion of the first diaphragm is configured to unseat over the first fluid inlet channel to allow the first fluid to pass from the first fluid inlet channel into the fluid outlet channel. A second diaphragm is seated over the second fluid inlet channel. At least a portion of the second diaphragm is configured to unseat over the first fluid inlet channel to allow the second fluid to pass from the second fluid inlet channel into the fluid outlet channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Colm M. Carmody, Gerard G. Henn, Robert R. Schaser, Raymond Jozwik
  • Publication number: 20180296176
    Abstract: A method for generating a 3D map of a cardiac parameter in a region of a living heart, the method using single-plane fluoroscopic images and comprising: (a) placing a plurality of catheters each having one or more radio-opaque sensors into the region such that the locations of the sensors geometrically span the region; (b) capturing a first-view digitized 2D image of the region from a first fluoroscope positioned at a first angle; (c) identifying each of the plurality of sensors in the first-view image; (d) capturing a second-view digitized 2D image of the region from a second fluoroscope positioned at a second angle which is different from the first angle; (e) identifying each of the plurality of sensors in the second-view image; (f) associating each of the plurality of identified sensors in the second-view image with its corresponding identified sensor in the first-view image; (g) sensing and storing values of the cardiac parameter with each of the plurality of sensors; (h) determining the 3D location of ea
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: APN Health, LLC
    Inventors: Jasbir Sra, Shivani Kohut, Donald Brodnick
  • Publication number: 20180296177
    Abstract: Embodiments of a medical imaging device and a method controlling one or more parameters of a medical imaging device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving image data representing a first image of an object to be imaged using the radiation source and detecting a plurality of positions of respective predetermined features in the first image. Based upon the detected positions, a boundary of an imaging area of the object to be imaged is determined. Based on the determined boundary, one or more parameters of the radiation source unit are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Yao-jen CHANG, Terrence CHEN, Birgi TAMERSOY, Vivek Kumar SINGH, Susanne OEPPING, Ralf NANKE
  • Publication number: 20180296178
    Abstract: An automation method is disclosed for an X-ray tube scanner having an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector. The method allows the X-ray tube scanner to detect the X-ray detector's plane with an object to be imaged placed on the X-ray detector; determine a boundary box of the object to be imaged on the X-ray detector; determine the object's center position and orientation on the X-ray detector's plane; transfer the object's center position from the object's coordinate system to the X-ray tube's coordinate system; and estimate the X-ray tube control parameters for aligning the X-ray field emitted from the X-ray tube's collimator to the object's center position and the object's orientation on the X-ray detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yao-jen Chang, Birgi Tamersoy, Susanne Oepping, Ralf Nanke, Terrence Chen
  • Publication number: 20180296179
    Abstract: A quality control phantom comprises a container and a frame to secure quality control accessories in position within the container during radiologic exposure testing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Yuan LIN, William J. SEHNERT, Karin TOEPFER
  • Publication number: 20180296180
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to accurate and non-invasive assessments of anatomic vessels (e.g., the internal jugular vein (IJV)) of vertebrates. For example, a piezoelectric crystal may generate a signal and receive a pulse echo of the signal along an axis extending through the piezoelectric crystal and an anatomic vessel. A force sensor disposed relative to the piezoelectric crystal may measure a force exerted (e.g., along skin of the vertebrate) on the anatomic vessel along the axis. The pulse echo received by the piezoelectric crystal and the force measured by the force sensor may, in combination, non-invasively and accurately determine a force response of the anatomic vessel. In turn, the force response may be probative of any one or more of a variety of different characteristics of the anatomic vessel including, for example, location of the anatomic vessel and pressure of the anatomic vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Galit Hocsman Frydman, Alexander Tyler Jaffe, Maulik D. Majmudar, Mohamad Ali Toufic Najia, Robin Singh, Zijun Wei, Jason Yang, Brian W. Anthony, Athena Yeh Huang, Aaron Michael Zakrzewski
  • Publication number: 20180296181
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for detecting a viscoelastic parameter of a viscoelastic medium. The method comprises: applying a mechanical vibration at a single predetermined frequency to the viscoelastic medium to generate a shear wave in the viscoelastic medium (101); emitting ultrasonic waves to the viscoelastic medium, and receiving ultrasonic echo signals (102); acquiring maximum displacement data of the shear wave at various depths according to the ultrasonic echo signals (103), each of the maximum displacement data representing a maximum oscillation amplitude of the shear wave when the shear wave propagates to different depths in the viscoelastic medium; fitting each of the maximum displacement data to obtain a maximum displacement attenuation curve (104); and determining the viscoelastic parameter of the viscoelastic medium according to the maximum displacement attenuation curve (105). The method and device can provide a more accurate measurement result of tissue fibrosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Fei Zhai, Jinhua Shao, Jin Sun, Houli Duan, Qiang Wang
  • Publication number: 20180296182
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively measuring intracranial pressure of a subject using an ultrasound transducer. The transducer is used to measure arterial wall movement of an intracranial segment and an extracranial segment of the subject's ophthalmic artery as different external pressure forces are applied to the orbital area of the subject. When the waveforms of arterial wall movement between the intracranial segment and the extracranial segment are similar the intracranial pressure can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan Maltz, Arminas Ragauskas
  • Publication number: 20180296183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for imaging brain activity from a set of ultrasound images I(t) of blood in a brain, wherein a measured spectrum s(P,t,?) is computed at each point P of the ultrasound images, a reference spectrum s(P,?) is determined at each point P, based on measured spectrums at point P, the reference spectrogram having a high frequency edge decaying in a frequency ?min(P) to ?max(P), and a differential intensity is computed as: dI(P,t)=??min(P)?max(P)A(P,?)[s(P,t,?)?s(P,?)]d? wherein A(P,?) is a positive weighting function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicants: VIB VZW, IMEC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U.Leuven R&D
    Inventors: Alan Urban, Gabriel Montaldo, Jean Rossier
  • Publication number: 20180296184
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: control section that switches a needle visibility priority mode in which ultrasound is not allowed to be transmitted from/received to transducer region including a central portion, but ultrasound is allowed to be transmitted from/received to transducer regions and excluding the central portion, and an image quality priority mode in which ultrasound is allowed to be transmitted from/received to transducer region; and an image generation section that generates needle visibility priority image data on the basis of reception signals in the needle visibility priority mode, and generates image quality priority image data on the basis of reception signals in the image quality priority mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Tatsuya NAITO, Shuhei Okuda
  • Publication number: 20180296185
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on an EM locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the EM locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Cox, Michael A. Randall, Peng Zheng, Dean M. Addison, Bryan A. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20180296186
    Abstract: An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: GODEFRIDUS ANTONIUSS HARKS, FRANCISCUS JOHANNES GERARDUS HAKKENS, ROLAND ALEXANDER VAN DE MOLENGRAAF, CORNELIS PETRUS HENDRIKS, ALEXANDER FRANCISCUS KOLEN, FRANCISCUS REINIER ANTONIUS VAN DER LINDE
  • Publication number: 20180296187
    Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus includes transducers, switches, a pulser, receiver, and processing unit, each transducer connected to the pulser and receiver via one switch and a single communications channel; the processing unit includes a memory and processor, is connected to the pulser and receiver, and identifies a first number that indicates a first aperture size, generates responses from the transducers, and processes the responses to produce image data; and the processor generates each response by selecting contiguous or non-contiguous transducers, the number being equal to the first number, for each switch connected to a selected transducer, sending a signal instructing the switch to connect the transducer to the communications channel, sending instructions to simultaneously fire selected transducers, with a pulse provided simultaneously to each selected transducer via the communications channel, and receiving a single response via the communications channel and receiver, which is the combination of outputs o
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: William Henry Gomersall
  • Publication number: 20180296188
    Abstract: A patient monitor (10) acquires a vital sign that is based on a physiological signal of a subject, and an ultrasonic image that is based on a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave which is irradiated onto the subject. A display section (16) displays information of the subject. A control section (14) switches between a first mode in which a screen containing information of the vital sign is displayed on the display section (16), and a second mode in which a screen containing the ultrasonic image is displayed on the display section (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro OURA, Sou KUMAGAI, Wataru MATSUZAWA, Naoki KOBAYASHI, Hiroto SANO, Takashi MORI, Nobuyuki YASUMARU, Kazuya NAGASE
  • Publication number: 20180296189
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using shear wave displacement are provided. The method includes a) generating at least one shear wave with an excitation pulse in the target region at an excitation position; b) transmitting tracking pulses in a tracking region, at least a portion of which is outside the target region; c) receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region; d) repeating steps A through C for one or more additional excitation positions within the target region, wherein at least two of the excitation pulses overlap and the tracking region associated with each excitation position overlaps with the tracking region associated with at least one other excitation position; and e) determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a shear wave displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Peter J. HOLLENDER, Gregg E. TRAHEY
  • Publication number: 20180296190
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device including a push pulse generator 104 that sets a specific site in a subject and causes a plurality of transducers 101a to transmit a push pulse pp; a detection pulse generator 105 that causes multiple transmissions of a detection pulse pwi that converges outside and passes through a region of interest roi in the subject; a displacement detector 109 that generates an acoustic line signal for each observation point Pij in the region of interest roi in order to detect displacement of tissue in the region of interest roi from an acoustic line signal frame data dsi sequence; and an elastic modulus calculator 110 that generates a wavefront frame data wfi sequence representing shear wave wavefront position, and calculates shear wave propagation speed and/or elastic modulus frame data emk in the region of interest roi based on the wavefront frame data wfi sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Yasuaki SUSUMU
  • Publication number: 20180296191
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing data acquired using ultrasound elastography, in which shear waves are generated in a subject using continuous vibration of an ultrasound transducer, are provided. The systems and methods described here can effectively remove motion artifacts associated with vibration of the ultrasound transducer, and can also remove the data sampling misalignment caused when a line-by-line imaging mode is used to acquire data, as is done by many conventional ultrasound scanners. Thus, the systems and methods described here provide techniques for transducer motion correction and for aligning motion signals detected by line-by-line scanning ultrasound systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel C. Mellema, Pengfei Song, Matthew W. Urban, Armando Manduca, James F. Greenleaf, Shigao Chen
  • Publication number: 20180296192
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a transmitter that outputs a drive signal to an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives ultrasound waves; a receiver that obtains a reception signal from the ultrasound probe; an image generator that generates ultrasound image data from the reception signal; a multiple-image-saved image data acquisition part that obtains multiple-image-saved image data containing a plurality of ultrasound images generated in the past within a single screen; an information acquisition part that obtains an image arrangement format of the plurality of ultrasound images of the obtained multiple-image-saved image data; and a display controller that performs comparison display of a comparison image among the plurality of ultrasound images of the multiple-image-saved image data and a current image based on the generated current ultrasound image data onto a single screen of the display part in accordance with the obtained image arrangement format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Tomohito SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20180296193
    Abstract: A method of visualizing anatomical elements in a medical includes receiving a medical image; detecting a plurality of anatomical elements from the medical image; verifying a location of each of the plurality of anatomical elements based on anatomical context information including location relationships between the plurality of anatomical elements; adjusting the location relationships between the plurality of anatomical elements; and combining the verified and adjusted information of the plurality of anatomical elements with the medical image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Baek Hwan CHO, Yeong Kyeong SEONG, Ye Hoon KIM, Ha Young KIM, Joo Hyuk JEON
  • Publication number: 20180296194
    Abstract: Information relevant to a state of a tissue in a subject (state information) is provided with technology reducing the amount of memory and computation necessary at the time of extracting the information. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted towards a subject, a transmission wave transmitted through the subject or a reflection wave reflected on the subject is received. A reception signal is generated on the basis of the transmission wave or the reflection wave. A tissue region candidate, of a region indicating a tissue of the subject, is set on the basis of the reception signal. State information, which is information relevant to a state of the tissue in the tissue region candidate, is calculated on the basis of the reception signal and the tissue region candidate. An ultrasonic image reflecting the state information is generated on the basis of the state information and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro YAMANAKA, Kenichi KAWABATA, Takahide TERADA, Yushi TSUBOTA, Wenjing WU
  • Publication number: 20180296195
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic vibrator that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave; a wire member that is electrically connected to the ultrasonic vibrator and is provided along a side surface of the ultrasonic vibrator; a shield member that is provided outside the wire member from a viewpoint of the ultrasonic vibrator and electrically protects the ultrasonic vibrator; and a first heat conduction member that is provided in contact with the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein the first heat conduction member and the shield member are thermally connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Shuhei OKUDA
  • Publication number: 20180296196
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for collecting a Mycobacterium complex species, such Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) from the oral cavities of particularly children and infants. A device is provided which has a distal end and an operative end portion manufactured from a parent polymer which has been functionalised with a chemical compound having an affinity to the Mycobacterium complex species to collect same such that the presence thereof in the sample can be detected. The invention further extends to a method of preparing biological material obtained from such collected sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Anne Frederica GROBLER, Lizl CRONJE, Hendrik VILJOEN
  • Publication number: 20180296197
    Abstract: A biopsy needle (100) comprises a cannula (5) with a distal end (15), an inner needle (1) that has a sharpened distal end (16) and at least one biopsy cavity (7) that is located at a distance (L3) from the sharpened distal end (16). The cannula (5) and the inner needle (1) are configured so that the inner needle (1) is accommodated inside the cannula (5) and the inner needle (1) and the cannula (5) are movable with regard to each other. The inner needle (1) further comprises at least two measuring electrodes (1, 4; 3, 4) for measuring a bioimpedance spectrum, the measuring electrodes (1, 4; 3, 4) defining a measuring volume that is localized to the distal end (16) of the inner needle (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Kai KRONSTRÖM, Petri AHONEN, Sanna MÄKI, Timo ELOMAA, Juho KARI
  • Publication number: 20180296198
    Abstract: A system for enhanced surgical navigation including a computing device and an imaging device. The computing device is configured to import a navigation path to a target using a first data set of computed tomography images previously acquired, display the navigation path on a graphical user interface for navigation to the target and placement of a plurality of markers in tissue proximate the target, and acquire a second data set of computed tomography images including the plurality of markers. The imaging device is configured to capture fluoroscopic data of tissue proximate the plurality of markers. The computing device is further configured to register the fluoroscopic data to the second data set of computed tomography images based on marker position and marker orientation within the fluoroscopic data and marker position and orientation within the second data set of computed tomography images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: OREN P. WEINGARTEN, DORIAN AVERBUCH
  • Publication number: 20180296199
    Abstract: A surgical delivery instrument for delivering a vascular hole closure device having first and second flexible members and a first and second engagement members extending from the respective flexible member. The delivery instrument includes a housing having first and second longitudinally extending openings and first and second projecting surfaces, the first projecting surface extending into the first opening for engagement by the first engagement member and the second projecting surface extending into the second opening for engagement by the second engagement member. The first engagement member is held by the first projecting surface until a predetermined force is applied to the first engagement member during placement of the closure device at a target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Rex Medical, L.P.
    Inventors: JAMES S. TARMIN, Thanu Anidharan
  • Publication number: 20180296200
    Abstract: A tissue displacing and fastening device is provided for manipulating and fastening tissue together. The device includes a tissue displacing elements, which displaces tissue. A fold is formed from the displaced tissue and the tissue is fastened together to secure the fold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Romley
  • Publication number: 20180296201
    Abstract: A specimen retrieval device is having a housing, an outer shaft, and an inner shaft releasably supporting a pouch. The device may further include a stripper plate operably coupled to the inner shaft for movement between a retracted configuration, in which the pouch and the stripper plate are within the outer shaft, and a deployed configuration, in which the pouch and the stripper plate are outside of the outer shaft. The stripper plate may define major and minor axes, wherein the dimension along the major axis is greater than the inner diameter of the outer shaft, and the dimension along the minor axis is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer shaft. The stripper plate may include one or more apertures, e.g., to receive a support mechanism of the device, or a suture. The device may also include structure preventing premature deployment of the pouch and the stripper plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Henry E. Holsten, Thomas Zammataro, Cody Pereira
  • Publication number: 20180296202
    Abstract: A handheld surgical retractor device for manually effecting safe and certain contralateral displacement of a patient's incised tissue by a single surgical assistant during invasive surgery, while said assistant manually effects lateral displacement of the patient's incised tissue to create an operative field. The device includes a handle attached to a first bar for transmitting a compressive force to a second bar to generate a tensile force acting on a retractor blade, with minimum obscuration and obstruction of the operative field. A light pipe may be attached for use in illuminating the operative field. Another device embodiment allows selection of removable retractor blades to match the characteristics of the blade based on the surgical requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jeffrey Boutte
  • Publication number: 20180296203
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tissue retractor. The retractor includes first and a second tissue-support assemblies that are moveably coupled together. Each of the first and second tissue-support assemblies includes a flexible sheet extending between two horizontal members, each sheet comprising a face configured to contact tissue. The tissue support assemblies are configured such that, in use, the first and second sheets exert substantially all of the force against the tissue that is to be retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: NICHOLAS R. POWLEY, MATTHEW T. SCHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20180296204
    Abstract: A mounting clamp is disclosed for an illuminated surgical retractor system having a handle that supports an illuminated surgical retractor blade. The mounting clamp is attached to and depends from the handle. The mounting clamp includes a receptacle for receiving a slide bar or other fixed component of an operating room table. The clamp further includes a fastener that is selectively tightened to secure the retractor assembly to the fixed component of the table. The fastener is selectively loosened to disengage the retractor assembly from the fixed component of the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: James M. Davis, Kim A. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20180296205
    Abstract: A balloon dissector includes a cannula, an expandable bladder, and a cord. The cannula defines a lumen between proximal and distal ends. The expandable bladder is configured to expand when fluid is injected into the lumen and includes an inner surface, a proximal base, and a retainer. The proximal base is selectively coupleable to the distal end of the cannula in a sealing relationship. The retainer is positioned on the inner surface of the expandable bladder. The cord includes a first end, a second end, and a central portion. The one end of the cord extends from the proximal end of the cannula. The cord extends through the lumen of the cannula and through the retainer of the bladder returning into the lumen. The cord configured to draw the expandable bladder into the lumen after the expandable bladder is expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jessica Gould
  • Publication number: 20180296206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical traction device and, more specifically, to a surgical traction device, in which a surgical incision site is expanded to allow a surgical tool to be easily inserted in a state, in which the epidermis is incised for surgical operation, and an expansion part having elasticity is formed into a cylindrical shape and held on a fixing part at the upper portion thereof so as to maintain the incision site in an expanded state. According to the present invention, the expansion part made of a material with elasticity can be inserted in the incision site so as to form a space for surgical operation and the expansion part can be easily attached to or separated from the fixing part so that it is easy to change the position of the traction device or remove the traction device during surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Chang Won CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20180296207
    Abstract: A self-punching soft suture anchor insertable into bone without preforming a hole in bone. The soft suture anchor is formed entirely of suture and is mounted on an inserter with a sharp tip for forming a hole in bone without pre-drilling. The inserter, with the soft suture anchor mounted thereon, is advanced into the bone. As the inserter is withdrawn, the soft suture anchor is released and thereby remains in the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Paul C. Brady
  • Publication number: 20180296208
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a handle, an elongate body, an actuator and a needle holder. The handle includes a proximal handle end and a distal handle end. The elongate body connects with the handle and includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator includes a manually operated member including an operator contact surface spaced from the proximal handle end in a direction toward the distal handle end. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip and defines a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The needle passage is configured to receive at least a portion of an associated needle when the actuator is in the first operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jens Johnson, Jay Tapper
  • Publication number: 20180296209
    Abstract: A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: DePuy Mitek, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Knapp, Bernhard Uihlein, Stanley O. Thompson, Timothy J. Coonahan, Jon Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180296210
    Abstract: A device for treating bone fractures, comprises an actuating mechanism removably coupleable to a clamping mechanism including a clamp defining a cable receiving channel extending therethrough and a compression member coupled to the clamp for movement relative thereto, movement of the compression member relative to the clamp in a first direction moving the clamping mechanism into a clamping configuration in which at least a portion of the clamp is compressed into the channel to fix a cable received therein relative to the clamping mechanism. The actuating mechanism includes a first member and a second member removably engagable with a clamping mechanism so that, when engaged, relative movement between the first and second members causes relative movement between the clamp and the compression member to move the clamping member between the clamping configuration and a release configuration, the actuating mechanism further including a tensioning mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Simon STUCKI, Guido HERTIG
  • Publication number: 20180296211
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Richard W. Timm, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20180296212
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing, stabilizing and sealing a device attached to a tissue surface comprising a tissue attaching device having an outer base ring defining an opening therethrough and a distally projecting tissue attachment element. The systems variously utilize annular sealing flanges distally attached to the outer base ring outside or inside the tissue attachment element to create a fluid tight seal. The systems variously utilize coils with regions of differing pitch to create sealing tissue pressure. Methods for installing an apical attaching device with a transapical port into a patient, comprising assessing the patient's viability for installation of the apical attaching device by determining an Index of Tissue Elasticity (ITE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jorge Hernan Jimenez, Dustin Seth West, Brendan Cunniffe, Thomas Feeney, James L. Greene, Robin Stephens
  • Publication number: 20180296213
    Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are provided that utilize an end effector biased to a closed position when an actuator of the device is biased in an uncompressed configuration. End effectors according to the present disclosure can include first and second jaws that can be moved from the biased closed position to an open position by compressing the actuator from the uncompressed configuration and towards a compressed configuration. Various force assemblies and related components are provided that allow the device to achieve two end effector actuation profiles: (1) moving from a closed position and to an open position; and (2) moving from a closed position, to an open position, and back to the closed position. Various structures and methods for operating such devices during a surgical procedure are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey S. Strobl
  • Publication number: 20180296214
    Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus including a tool assembly and a surgical buttress. The tool assembly includes: a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface, staple retaining pockets having a plurality of surgical fasteners therein, and a knife slot; and an anvil assembly including an anvil plate having a tissue facing surface defining staple forming pockets and a knife slot. The surgical buttress is attached to the tissue facing surface of at least one of the cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly, and conforms to the tissue facing surface such that the surgical buttress is deformed locally into the staple retaining pockets and the knife slot of the cartridge assembly or the staple forming pockets and the knife slot of the anvil assembly to which the surgical buttress is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Gerald N. Hodgkinson, Paul A. Scirica
  • Publication number: 20180296215
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed which comprises cartridge body and a layer. The layer is implantable against tissue by staples deployed from the cartridge body and deformed by an anvil. The cartridge and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the cartridge and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the cartridge body. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the anvil and the layer comprise co-operating features which reduce relative movement between the anvil and the layer. Such co-operating features can also releasably retain the layer to the anvil. In certain instances, the layer can be positioned against the anvil, but releasably attached to the cartridge. The layer can comprise buttress material and/or a tissue thickness compensator, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Jerome R. Morgan, Frederick E. Shelton, IV