Nuclear Radiation (e.g., Radioactive Emission, Etc.) Patents (Class 600/436)
  • Patent number: 11963670
    Abstract: A method for determining a lesion location in a patient for biopsy along X, Y, and Z axes. The method includes positioning the patient in an examination device to collect examination images showing the lesion. The method includes positioning the patient in a biopsy device configured for holding the patient during the biopsy and collecting a biopsy image of the patient using the biopsy device. The method includes analyzing the biopsy image to determine a measured x-coordinate and a measured y-coordinate of the lesion along the X and Y axes, respectively, analyzing the examination images to determine a calculated z-coordinate along the Z axis of the lesion, and determining the location of the lesion based on the measured x-coordinate and the measured y-coordinate from the biopsy image and the calculated z-coordinate determined from the one or more examination images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Laurence Vancamberg, Clement Jailin, Serge Muller
  • Patent number: 11911209
    Abstract: An imaging member including: a pressing member that presses a breast of a subject; and an ultrasonography member that has a first surface on which an acoustic matching member having fluidity is provided, and is provided such that a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface is provided on a surface of the pressing member, which is on a side opposite to a surface that comes into contact with the breast, via a coupling material having lower fluidity than the acoustic matching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Arai, Hiroki Nakayama, Yoshie Fujimoto, Shunsuke Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11886975
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of generating models to predict prospective pathology scores of test subjects having a pathology in certain embodiments. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yong Du, Kevin H. Leung, Martin Gilbert Pomper
  • Patent number: 11782173
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus suitable for detecting radiation, comprising: a plurality of pixels configured to generate an electric signal upon exposure to a radiation; an electronic system configured to read out the electric signal; wherein the electronic system comprises a first memory and a second memory; wherein the first memory is configured to store a plurality of data bits representing the electric signal generated by the pixel that the first memory is associated with; wherein the electronic system is configured to transmit a subset of bits among the plurality of data bits, from the first memory to the second memory; wherein the electronic system is configured to transmit the subset of bits from the second memory to a bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peiyan Cao
  • Patent number: 11737717
    Abstract: A method of imaging a breast of a patient using an imaging system includes applying, with a first component of the imaging system, a compressive force to the breast. A second component of the imaging system is positioned in a start position. The imaging system sends a first guidance signal to the patient. An imaging procedure of the breast is performed with the second component of the imaging system. Subsequent to performing the imaging procedure, a second guidance signal is sent to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Robinson, Kenneth Defreitas, Adrian Hunsdon, Rachel Chandler, Ashwini Kshirsagar, David Wolff, Alan Rego
  • Patent number: 11717263
    Abstract: An all-in-one mammography and breast ultrasonography apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a scanning table on which breasts are placed, the scanning table having a first axis aligned with a scanning direction of breasts and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; an X-ray imaging device including an X-ray source arranged above the scanning table to generate X-rays for mammography and an X-ray flat panel detector arranged on the scanning table to detect the X-rays generated from the X-ray source; first and second ultrasound probes arranged on the scanning table so as to be adjacent to both ends of the X-ray flat panel detector to perform breast ultrasonography, the first and second ultrasound probes elongated along the second axis; and an orbital motion device installed on the scanning table to reciprocate the X-ray flat panel detector and the first and second ultrasound probes together along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MEDICAL PARK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hee Boong Park
  • Patent number: 11707237
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a flow rate for a given vessel includes obtaining, via a processor, dynamic three-dimensional (3D) images of a subject utilizing nuclear medicine imaging. The method also includes obtaining, via the processor, injection parameters for a radiotracer bolus injected into the subject via an automated injector. The method further includes generating, via the processor, time activity curves (TACs) for the radiotracer bolus from the 3D images. The method even further includes estimating, via the processor, the flow rate for the given vessel based on a morphology of the one or more TACs and the injection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Sachs, Raz Carmi
  • Patent number: 11701494
    Abstract: Disclosed catheter insertion systems enable the user to identify the location of the needle based on the electrical properties of subcutaneous tissue relative the electrical properties of other fluids such as blood or air. Disclosed systems can include one or more of the following features: 1) the catheter assembly is modular (e.g., the catheter can be connected and disconnected from the detection unit at will); 2) the detection unit employs an electrical circuit that allows for the discernment between subcutaneous tissue and blood; 3) the system assists the end user with catheter advancement. Some embodiments can be used to insert catheters into a spaces where the needle passes first through subcutaneous fat and muscle before entering fluid or air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Cameron Dezfulian, William W. Clark, Ehsan Qaium, Dennis Wist
  • Patent number: 11690585
    Abstract: A radiation image display apparatus that constitutes a radiation imaging system includes a displayer and a hardware processor that acquires image data of a dynamic image constituted of a plurality of frame images, image data of an analysis dynamic image obtained by applying predetermined image processing to the image data of the dynamic image and image data of a related dynamic image which is related to the dynamic image or the analysis dynamic image respectively, and causes the displayer to display the related dynamic image together with the dynamic image and the analysis dynamic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takanori Ando, Yuuichi Nishijima, Kenichi Yanagisawa, Ichirou Hamamoto
  • Patent number: 11617561
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system is for determining stroke volume and/or cardiac output. The imaging system may include a transducer unit for acquiring ultrasound data of a heart of a subject (or an input for receiving the acquired ultrasound data), and a controller. The controller is adapted to implement a two-step procedure, the first step being an initial assessment step, and the second being an imaging step having two possible modes depending upon the outcome of the assessment. In the initial assessment procedure, it is determined whether regurgitant ventricular flow is present. This is performed using Doppler processing techniques applied to an initial ultrasound data set. If regurgitant flow does not exist, stroke volume is determined using segmentation of 3D ultrasound image data to identify and measure the volume of the left or right ventricle at each of end systole and end-diastole, the difference between them giving a measure of stroke volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Balasundar Iyyavu Raju, Peter Bingley, Frank Michael Weber, Jonathan Thomas Sutton, Tilman Wekel, Arthur Bouwman, Erik Korsten
  • Patent number: 11564629
    Abstract: A pellet for testing distal colonic and anorectal function. In one embodiment the pellet comprises a bag comprising the exterior of the pellet wherein the bag is comprised of a polymer that is reactive with a catalyst to form a more solid-like substance. In another embodiment, the pellet may comprise one of a grapheme layer, a wavelength transducer, or a magnetically attractive element. In another embodiment the pellet may comprise a telescopic extender and further comprise a telescope bad coupled to the telescopic extender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: GI Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Ghassan S. Kassab, Hans Gregersen
  • Patent number: 11547300
    Abstract: Methods for evaluating micrometastases in a tissue region of a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a detectably effective amount of a tumor-targeted photoactivatable immunoconjugate; allowing a sufficient amount of time for the tumor-targeted photoactivatable immunoconjugate to enter micrometastases in the tissue region; illuminating the tumor-targeted photoactivatable immunoconjugate; obtaining an image of the tissue region of the subject using a fluorescent imaging device, and evaluating the micrometastases in the tissue region by conducting algorithmic analysis of the image. Methods of treating micrometastases in a tissue region of a subject are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Tayyaba Hasan, Bryan Q. Spring, Akilan Palanisami
  • Patent number: 11497108
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system includes a radiation source and a notifying unit. The radiation source is for still image shooting and moving image shooting performed by the radiation imaging system to obtain image data of a subject. The notifying unit notifies whether a type of imaging to be performed is the still image shooting or the moving image shooting in a mode in which the type is instinctively recognizable by at least one of sense of sight, sense of hearing, and sense of touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Nishijima, Tetsu Hosoki, Nobuyuki Miyake
  • Patent number: 11445992
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a DBN based separation method of a mixture of dual-tracer single-acquisition PET signals labelled with the same isotope. It predicts the two separate PET signals by establishing a complex mapping relationship between the dynamic mixed concentration distribution of the same isotope-labeled dual-tracer pairs and the two single radiotracer concentration images. Based on the compartment models and the Monte Carlo simulation, the present invention selects three sets of the same radionuclide-labeled tracer pairs as the objects and simulates the entire PET process from injection to scanning to generate enough training sets and testing sets. When inputting the testing sets into the constructed universal deep belief network trained by the training sets, the prediction results show that the two individual PET signals can been reconstructed well, which verifies the effectiveness of using the deep belief network to separate the dual-tracer PET signals labelled with the same isotope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huafeng Liu, Jinmin Xu
  • Patent number: 11412973
    Abstract: An ergonomic and unobtrusive cardiac monitoring and treatment device for continuous wear includes a band, ECG sensing electrodes and treatment electrodes configured to deliver an electrotherapy, one or more sensor ports for receiving one or more physiological sensors, and a controller for analyzing an ECG signal of a patient and causing a delivery of electro therapy. The band is configured to be worn about a thoracic region and has a vertical span of between about 1 to about 15 centimeters. The band is configured to be immobilized relative to a skin surface of the thoracic region of the patient by exerting one or more compression forces against the thoracic region. The device can include at least two separate wearable portions comprising a band portion including ECG sensing electrodes and/or other physiological sensors, and a second wearable portion optionally separable from the band portion, the second wearable portion including treatment electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J Gabrin, Christopher L Swenglish, Gary A Freeman
  • Patent number: 11244480
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical information processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive data acquired by scan for an object, and output a reconstructed image data based on the data and a trained model that accepts the data as input data and outputs the reconstructed image data corresponding to the data. The trained model is trained by learning using raw data generated based on a numerical phantom and the numerical phantom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Teshigawara, Takahiro Yoda, Ryo Okuda, Hiroki Tawara
  • Patent number: 11200711
    Abstract: The following relates to noise filtering in nuclear imaging systems. In one aspect, a fully automatic noise filtering system is provided in a nuclear imaging device. In some embodiments, a filter parameter selection engine is applied to an image environment of a medical image to calculate an image filter configuration for the medical image wherein the image environment includes values for one or more of an imaging subject of the medical image, an imaging device used to acquire the medical image, and a medical context of the medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bin Zhang, Zhiqiang Hu
  • Patent number: 11185601
    Abstract: The present invention provides peptide conjugates that target an integrin such as ?v?6 integrin. In particular embodiments, the peptide conjugates comprise a moiety such as a PEG moiety, an imaging agent, or a therapeutic agent. The peptide conjugates of the present invention are particularly useful for imaging a tumor, organ, or tissue. Compositions and kits containing the peptide conjugates of the present invention are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yng Tang, Julie L. Sutcliffe
  • Patent number: 11150361
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source and detector. The detector is a photon counting x-ray detector, enabling detection of photon-counting events. The system acquires at least one phase contrast image based on photon-counting events. The detector includes x-ray detector sub-modules, also referred to as wafers, each including detector elements. The sub-modules are oriented in edge-on geometry with their edge directed towards the x-ray source, assuming the x-rays enter through the edge. Each sub-module or wafer has a thickness with two opposite sides of different potentials to enable charge drift towards the side, where the detector elements/pixels, are arranged. The system estimates charge diffusion from a Compton interaction or an interaction through photoeffect related to an incident x-ray photon in a sub-module or wafer of the x-ray detector, and estimates a point of interaction of the x-ray photon sub-module based on the determined estimate of charge diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PRISMATIC SENSORS AB
    Inventors: Mats Danielsson, Christel Sundberg
  • Patent number: 11112454
    Abstract: Described herein are antenna-coupled radio frequency (RF) probes with replaceable tips. In the described embodiments, test signals are coupled onto a probe tip wafer via an on-tip antenna, thus the probe tip is decoupled from the probe body. This allows for separate fabrication of the probe body and the probe tip. As such, the probe tip can be made available as a “commodity” and the user can simply replace a worn-out or damaged probe tip, providing significant savings in per-unit cost and operation cost of the new contact probes. The decoupling of probe tip and probe body allows for manual replacement of probe tip without the need for extremely accurate alignment which is typically required in extremely high frequency probes. Manual replacement of the tips is only possible due to the much less stringent alignment requirements afforded by the antenna coupling from the probe body to the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventor: Kubilay Sertel
  • Patent number: 11092698
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system comprises a plurality of imaging apparatuses configured to generate images based on radiation emitted from a radiation generator, and a control apparatus configured to communicate with the plurality of imaging apparatuses. Each of the plurality of imaging apparatuses generates imaging information with a smaller data size than an image obtained by an imaging operation based on the image. The control apparatus acquires the imaging information from each of the plurality of imaging apparatuses, and selects, from the plurality of imaging apparatuses based on the imaging information, an imaging apparatus from which an image obtained by an imaging operation is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hikaru Tanaka, Yuichi Nishii, Kenta Endoh, Tomohiro Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 11076943
    Abstract: A surgical device is provided. The surgical device includes a housing adapted for mounting on a finger of a user; and at least one guide tube attached along a length of the housing. The guide tube is configured for guiding a tissue repair implant from a proximal opening to a distal opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FEMSELECT LTD
    Inventors: Boaz Harari, Guy Ohad
  • Patent number: 11033244
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vivo radiation amount measuring instrument. An in vivo radiation amount measuring instrument according to the present invention comprises: a main body elongated along an in vivo inserting direction and capable of supplying a fluid; an expanding part having at least a portion thereof fixed or connected to the main body and capable of being expanded and contracted by means of the outflow/inflow of the fluid; and a radiation measuring part disposed on the expanding part and measuring the amount of surface radiation distribution on in vivo tissue which the expanding part contacts by expanding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL CANCER CENTER
    Inventors: Young Kyung Lim, Eun Hee Jeang, Ui-Jung Hwang, Kwan Ho Cho, Se Byeong Lee, Dongho Shin, Jeonghoon Park, Dae Yong Kim, Joo-Young Kim, Tae Hyun Kim, Sun Young Kim, Kwanghyun Jo, Ki Mun Kang, Hojin Jeong
  • Patent number: 10962662
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for positron emission imaging to calibrate timing of a pixelated gamma detector using multi-channel events. The apparatus can include processing circuitry configured to obtain calibration data representing a time and a position at which gamma rays are detected at a plurality of detector elements, and determine which gamma-ray detections of the calibration data correspond to multi-channel detections in which energy of a respective gamma ray is shared and detected by two or more of the plurality of detector elements. Additionally, the processing circuitry can be configured to determine a timing calibration of the plurality of detector elements by optimizing an objective representing agreement between time data of the multi-channel detections in the calibration data and the timing calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi Qiang, Xiaoli Li, Kent C. Burr
  • Patent number: 10949971
    Abstract: A method include obtaining at least one first PET image of a subject acquired by a PET scanner and at least one first MR image of the subject acquired by an MR scanner. The method may also include obtaining a target neural network model. The target neural network model may provide a mapping relationship between PET images, MR images, and corresponding attenuation correction data, and output attenuation correction data associated with a specific PET image of the PET images. The method may further include generating first attenuation correction data corresponding to the subject using the target neural network model based on the at least one first PET image and the at least one first MR image of the subject, and determining a target PET image of the subject based on the first attenuation correction data corresponding to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lingzhi Hu, Tuoyu Cao, Gang Yang, Yang Lyu
  • Patent number: 10925562
    Abstract: A system for imaging includes a gantry movable relative to a subject. A source is configured to emit radiation during an imaging procedure. A detector is configured to receive attenuated radiation from the source during an imaging procedure, at least one of the source and the detector movably secured to the gantry by an adjustable joint. An imaging controller is operably connected to at least the gantry and to the adjustable joint, wherein the gantry controller receives a priori patient information and imaging system geometry information, the imaging controller determines an imaging geometry and operates the gantry and the adjustable joint to vary a source to image-receptor distance (SID) according to the imaging geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Mc Carthy, Gregoire Avignon
  • Patent number: 10796465
    Abstract: A method for establishing and/or reducing artifacts that arise when reconstructing (R) an MPI overall image data record from MPI signal data and an appended system matrix (SMapp(r,f)), wherein the appended system matrix (SMapp(r,f)) includes system matrices of different particle classes (P1, P2). The method includes setting a selection region (cvn(r)) of a reconstructed MPI overall image data record (cn(r)), producing virtual signal data (sn(f)) by inverse transformation of the selection region, reconstructing a virtual overall image data record (c?vn(r)) from the virtual signal data and the appended system matrix, setting an artifact region (cartifact_n(r)) within the reconstructed virtual overall image data record so that the artifact region has only voxels lying outside of the selection region, and assigning the image data present in the artifact region as artifact image data (cartifact_n(r)). This permits ghost artifacts to be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BRUKER BIOSPIN MRI GMBH
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Michael Herbst
  • Patent number: 10722171
    Abstract: A device for measuring a plurality of parameters of a patient subject to a treatment with radiopharmaceuticals includes a main body constrained to the patient's body in such a way that the measurement device is of wearable type. The device includes a plurality of measurement modules, for example a first module and a second module, each of which is equipped with a respective sensor, configured to measure a predetermined parameter of the patient. The device is also equipped with a microprocessor configured to process a plurality of data measured by the plurality of sensors, obtaining a plurality of processed data. Furthermore, a transmission means is provided of wireless type arranged to send via wireless communication the data processed by the microprocessor to a remote control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: WINMEDICAL S.R.L.
    Inventors: Pietro Valdastri, Ferdinando De Negri
  • Patent number: 10566091
    Abstract: Exemplified method and system facilitates monitoring and/or evaluation of disease or physiological state using mathematical analysis and machine learning analysis of a biopotential signal collected from a single electrode. The exemplified method and system creates, from data of a singularly measured biopotential signal, via a mathematical operation (i.e., via numeric fractional derivative calculation of the signal in the frequency domain), one or more mathematically-derived biopotential signals (e.g., virtual biopotential signals) that is used in combination with the measured biopotential signals to generate a multi-dimensional phase-space representation of the body (e.g., the heart). By mathematically modulating (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Analytics For Life Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Burton, Shyamlal Ramchandani, Sunny Gupta
  • Patent number: 10524745
    Abstract: A data acquisition device according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to compare the reference waveform of a signal, which is output from a detector that detects radiation, with the waveform of a detection signal based on the radiation, which enters the detector through the subject and which is detected by the detector. The processing circuitry is configured to estimate the information about the radiation, which enters the detector through the subject, in accordance with a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Emi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10492748
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes a sensor unit in which a plurality of detecting elements each configured to detect emitted radiation are arranged, and a notification unit configured to make a notification by a sound. As the sound produced from the notification unit, a sound having a fundamental frequency which satisfies a condition determined based on the number of rows of a predetermined area of an image read out from the sensor unit and a readout frequency of signals of each row is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Nonaka, Taro Hiroike, Asato Kosuge
  • Patent number: 10478136
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure disclose a system and method for delivering for administering radiation to a patient. The method may include associating the patient with one of a plurality of coded dosage zones wherein each of the plurality of coded dosage zones corresponds to one or more values of a physical characteristic. The method may further include correlating the one of the plurality of coded dosage zones to a dose of radiation and then applying the dose of radiation to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Caleb Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10468241
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples related to ion or particle spectrometry utilizing a monolithic collimator and energy analyzer. In one example, a particle selection device includes a single substrate including a curved channel energy analyzer section and a straight channel collimator section, wherein particles pass through the collimator section and enter the energy analyzer section of the substrate. The channel outlets in the collimator section are aligned with the channel inlets of the energy analyzer section. Electric and/or magnetic fields can be applied across the channels of the energy analyzer for ion or particle discrimination. A particle detector at the outlet of the energy analyzer section can provide indications of detected ions and/or particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Earl Scime, Amy M. Keesee, Matthew Phillip Dugas, Steven Brian Ellison, Joseph Christopher David Tersteeg, Drew B. Elliott
  • Patent number: 10295638
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image data acquisition unit, a development generating unit and a display unit. The image data acquisition unit acquires slice image data with regard to a heart of an object. The development generating unit obtains blood flow perfusion information with regard to a myocardial thickness direction based on the slice image data and generates development data according to a desired development format for displaying the blood flow perfusion information. The display unit displays the development data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10231814
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an implantable medical device comprising a material capture element, which has a generally closed conical deployed shape and a narrow end disposed at or proximate the first end of the device. The material capture element includes a wide end facing the second end of the device, the material capture element having a zone of wider radial dimension which provides a first vessel contact site. A plurality of wire tethers are coupled to the wide end and extend to the second end. The wire tethers define a substantially open passageway for blood and provide a second vessel contact site. The first and second contact sites are spaced longitudinally from one another to provide stability. A first retrieval element is disposed at the first end and coupled to the narrow end, while a second retrieval element is disposed at the second end and coupled to the wire tethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Torben Peter Andersen, Jens Kold
  • Patent number: 10178979
    Abstract: A dual modality probe is disclosed having both a gamma probe sensor and an ultrasound sensor. A dual imaging system is provided having the probe and at least one external gamma imaging detector and a data acquisition computer system for collecting data simultaneously from the gamma probe sensor, the gamma imaging detector, and the ultrasound sensor of the probe. A method for evaluating a target organ of a patient utilizing the probe and imaging system, and performing a biopsy of the organ is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Stanislaw Majewski, Gary Marano, Alexander Stolin, James Proffitt
  • Patent number: 10126438
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for examining a subject. In one embodiment, a method includes polarizing nuclei of a radioactive substance such that the spins of the nuclei are oriented in a specific direction, to generate a polarized radioactive tracer with anisotropic gamma ray emission probability. The method also includes introducing the tracer into a subject. The method further includes applying radio frequency oscillating (RF) magnetic fields and/or spatially varying magnetic fields to the tracer that are configured to manipulate the orientation of the spins such as to manipulate the directional dependence of gamma ray emission from the tracer. The method further includes detecting gamma rays from the gamma ray emission, and obtaining, based on the detected gamma rays and properties associated with the anisotropic gamma ray emission, imaging data and/or spectroscopic data associated with the tracer in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Gordon D. Cates, Jr., G. Wilson Miller, Yuan Zheng, William A. Tobias
  • Patent number: 10052459
    Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a wire guide having a helical outer wire and a non-helical core wire slidable within the outer wire between an advanced position and a retracted position. The outer wire includes a steering tip having a medium stiffness and a bending bias, and the core wire includes a higher stiffness and a straightening bias. The assembly further includes a catheter slidable over the outer wire to a steering configuration. A distal catheter end includes a compliant lower stiffness, and is adjustable in the steering configuration between a straight shape and a curved shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: James R. Randolph
  • Patent number: 9939533
    Abstract: A system and method for the measurement of radiation emitted from an in-vivo administered radioactive analyte. Gamma radiation sensors may be used to determine the proper or improper administration of a radioactive analyte in some cases, the system employs a sensor having a scintillation material to convert gamma radiation to visible light, which enables embodiments of the sensor to be ex vivo. A light detector converts the visible light to an electrical signal. This signal is amplified and is processed to measure the captured radiation. Temperature of the sensor may be recorded along with this radiation measurement for temperature compensation of ex vivo embodiments. The sensor enables collection of sufficient data to support separate application to predictive models, background comparisons, or change analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lucerno Dynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua G. Knowland, Charles W. Scarantino, Ronald K. Lattanze
  • Patent number: 9925940
    Abstract: A method and system may identify vehicle collisions in real-time or at least near real-time based on statistical data collected from previous vehicle collisions. A user's portable computing device may obtain sensor data from sensors in the portable computing device and compare the sensor data to a statistical model indicative of a vehicle collision, where the statistical model includes sensor data characteristics which correspond to the vehicle collision. The sensor data characteristics may include several threshold sample rate ranges at which another sensor data characteristic is measured and for each of the threshold sample rate ranges, a different threshold value for the other sensor data characteristic. If the portable computing device identifies a vehicle collision based on the comparison, notifications may be sent to emergency contacts and/or emergency personnel to provide assistance to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, David J. Dosher, Sunish Shreenarayan Menon, Susan M. Dunham
  • Patent number: 9921172
    Abstract: A nuclear level sensing gauge for measuring the level of product in a bin utilizes a plurality of scintillators arranged in a serial fashion. A source of nuclear radiation is positioned adjacent the bin, and the scintillators, which may be bundles of one or more scintillating fibers or scintillating crystals, are positioned in a serial fashion adjacent the bin opposite the source of nuclear radiation, such that nuclear radiation passing through the bin impinges upon the bundles. Light guides carry photons emitted by the scintillators—which are indicative of radiation passing through the bin—to a common photomultiplier tube. The tube is connected to electronics which convert counts of photons from the PMT into a measure of the level of radiation-absorbing product in the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Vega Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Bonaventure Cahill, Thomas Niinemets
  • Patent number: 9895114
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a rotating gantry, a bed, plural nuclear medicine (NM) imaging detectors, and a processing unit. The rotating gantry has a bore. The NM detectors are disposed about the bore of the gantry. The NM detectors each have an in-plane field of view, and are configured to pivot about a corresponding axis with respect to the gantry to change the in-plane field of view. The processing unit is configured to acquire first NM imaging information at a first gantry rotational position, with the in-plane fields of view of the NM imaging detectors parallel to a predetermined direction; actuate the gantry to rotate to a second gantry rotational position; actuate the NM imaging detectors to pivot such that the in-plane fields of view are parallel to the predetermined direction; acquire additional NM imaging information at the second gantry rotational position; and reconstruct a planar image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yaron Hefetz, Jonathan Sachs, Gil Kovalski, Avi Bar-Shalev
  • Patent number: 9820798
    Abstract: Targeted ablation of parathyroidal tissue is provided through hyperthermia adjuvant therapy. An in situ localization of parathyroidal tissue is obtained. A temperature-sensitive adjuvant is instilled into the parathyroidal tissue. Hyperthermia is therapeutically induced within the parathyroidal tissue. Heat-inducing energy is targeted into the parathyroidal tissue, which selectively includes the temperature-sensitive adjuvant. Application of the heat-inducing energy to the parathyroidal tissue is continued over a therapeutic range. In a further embodiment, the targeted ablation of the parathyroidal tissue is provided through hypothermia adjuvant therapy with the targeted use of cold-inducing energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Alan N. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9782078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for blood vessel imaging, detection, and marking and in particular, to such a system and method in which optical enhancers are utilized to increase the accuracy and quality of the process for detecting a blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Uzi Rahum
  • Patent number: 9743900
    Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, a medical imaging system with an integrated body monitoring device is disclosed which includes: a movable platform for supporting a patient during image acquisition; an image acquisition device for the acquisition of images of the patient upon the platform; a body monitoring device for the monitoring of a body function of the patient during image acquisition; the body monitoring device being adapted to transmit body function signals to the image acquisition device and the image acquisition device being adapted to effect image acquisition based on the signals received from the body monitoring device; wherein the body monitoring device is integrated with the image acquisition system. In the preferred embodiments, the medical imaging system is a nuclear medical imaging system and the body monitoring device is an ECG device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Ansgar Graw
  • Patent number: 9723988
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to perform a more accurate and detailed diagnosis of a brain disease. A diagnosis server 10 of the brain disease diagnosis system 1 for diagnosing a brain disease of an examined person includes: an acquiring unit 11 for acquiring a brain image of the examined person so as to obtain an acquired image; a region setting unit 12 for setting a plurality of regions in the acquired image; an individual index value calculating unit 13 for calculating an individual index value based on a pixel value of the acquired image, in each of the plurality of regions; a whole index value calculating unit 14 for calculating a whole index value by weighting the individual index value of each of the plurality of regions; a diagnosis unit 15 for diagnosing the brain disease of the examined person based on the whole index value; and an output unit 16 for outputting information indicating a diagnosis outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Kosugi, Hiroyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 9639952
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a moving image acquiring unit that acquires a moving image including a plurality of frame images a respiratory information acquiring unit that performs a respiratory information acquiring processing of acquiring respiratory information synchronized at times at which the frame images are captured, a blood-flow-restricted time determining unit that performs a blood-flow-restricted time determining processing of determining, on the basis of the respiratory information, a blood-flow-restricted time indicating a time at which the blood flow of the target region is assumed to be restricted due to respiration, and a blood flow analysis correcting unit that performs a blood-flow-analysis content correcting processing of excluding the frame image captured at the blood-flow-restricted time from targets for blood flow analysis or decreasing the blood-flow-analysis importance of the frame image compared with another time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Shimamura, Hiroshi Yamato, Osamu Toyama, Shintaro Muraoka, Sho Noji
  • Patent number: 9586058
    Abstract: The idea concerns irradiation of a target volume (53), wherein intensities for target points (70) are determined which are sequentially approached by a beam, comprising the following steps: detecting a volume (63) to be protected, wherein a dose generated by irradiating a target volume (53) does not exceed a predetermined maximum value; determining intensities for target points (70) in such a way that within the volume (63) to be protected the generated dose does not exceed the predetermined maximum value, wherein a dose contribution data record is used for determining the intensities, which dose contribution data record comprises the dose generated at other spots (73) by directing the beam (10) on one of the target points (70) with a predetermined intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GSI Helmfoltzzentrum fur Schwerinonenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Gerhard Kraft
  • Patent number: 9569687
    Abstract: An image analysis device includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire a moving image showing a variation of a respiratory status, the moving image being formed with frame images including an image of a heart; an image analyzing unit configured to generate a first index indicating a cardiac status with respect to each of the frame images; and an index analyzing unit configured to derive a second index indicating lung function from a change caused in the first indexes by the respiratory status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenta Shimamura, Osamu Toyama, Koichi Fujiwara, Hiroshi Yamato
  • Patent number: 9463335
    Abstract: A method for planning and monitoring radiopharmaceutical usage during a plurality of radiopharmaceutical injection procedures includes: providing a schedule of the plurality of radiopharmaceutical injection procedures to produce a planned patient schedule; based on the planned patient schedule, calculating a multi-dose container configuration for use during the plurality of radiopharmaceutical injection procedures; transferring the planned patient schedule to a radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system; loading the multi-dose patient configuration into the radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system; and conducting the plurality of radiopharmaceutical injection procedures based on the planned patient schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Scott R. Griffith, James A. Agamaite, Douglas Descalzi, Charles Marsh