Ultrasonic Patents (Class 600/437)
  • Patent number: 10751034
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for calculating tumor detection probability of a biopsy plan and for generating a 3D biopsy plan that maximizes tumor detection probability. A capsule shaped volume is modeled to represent the volume that a biopsy core may sample. An optimization method is used to generate a 3D biopsy plan that maximizes probability of tumor detection for predefined biopsy core numbers and length. Risk of detecting insignificant tumors, also determined by size, and probability of a false negative result is automatically calculated. The present invention also includes a method to determine number and length of biopsy cores required for individual patients determined by the balance of the insignificant/significant probability of detection, prostate size and shape, based upon the previously explained 3D biopsy plan generation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Johna Hopkins University
    Inventors: Dan Stoianovici, Doyoung Chang, Misop Han
  • Patent number: 10743829
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining and evaluating an objective tumor response to an anti-cancer therapy using cross-sectional images can include receiving cross-sectional images of digital medical image data and identifying target lesions within the cross-sectional images. For each of the target lesions, a target lesion type and anatomical location is identified, a segmenting tool is activated for segmenting the target lesions into regions of interest, lesion metrics are automatically extracted from the regions of interest according to tumor response criteria, and conformity of target lesion identification is monitored using rules associated with the tumor response criteria, prompting a user to address any nonconforming target lesion. The method also includes receiving a presence/absence of metastases, determining changes in lesions metrics, and deriving an objective tumor response based on the tumor response criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AI METRICS, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Dennis Smith
  • Patent number: 10743837
    Abstract: A method and system for generating an enhanced image of a volume of tissue, the method comprising: emitting acoustic waveforms toward the volume of tissue; detecting a set of acoustic signals derived from acoustic waveforms interacting with the volume of tissue; generating, from the set of acoustic signals, an initial model representing a distribution of an acoustomechanical parameter across a region of the volume of tissue; extracting a set of frequency components, from the set of acoustic signals; generating a first simulated wavefield with a first frequency component of the set of frequency components; generating an updated model of the initial model with the first simulated wavefield; iteratively refining the updated model with a set of simulated wavefields associated with the set of frequency components until a threshold condition is satisfied, thereby producing a final model; and generating the enhanced image from the final model of the volume of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Delphinus Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gursharan Singh Sandhu, Cuiping Li, Olivier Roy, Steven Schmidt, Nebojsa Duric
  • Patent number: 10746873
    Abstract: An echo processor (117) for an ultrasound imaging device (102) includes a frame processor (118) that aligns a plurality (N) of sequentially received frames of echoes based on a set of motion displacement fields for the plurality of frames and combines the aligned plurality of sequentially received frames, thereby forming a compounded frame. A method includes obtaining a set of frames of echoes acquired at different times, determining a motion displacement field based on at least two of the frames of the set, motion-compensating all of the frames of the set based on the displacement field and previously determined displacement fields, and generating a compounded frame based on the motion-compensated frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: B-K Medical ApS
    Inventor: Bo Martins
  • Patent number: 10743845
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an analyzer analyzes the state of a tissue at a position in a subject from which an ultrasound wave that is transmitted by an ultrasound probe into the subject is reflected, the analysis being on the basis of a received signal of the ultrasound wave. A signal acquiring unit acquires noises signal information corresponding to an area that is analyzed by the analyzer. A noise area extracting unit determines, regarding each area analyzed by the analyzer, whether the received signal that is used for the analysis performed by the analyzer is a noise signal, the determination being on the basis of the noise signal information acquired by the signal acquiring unit. A display controller configured controls a display unit such that the display unit displays an area regarding which the area extracting unit determines that the received signal is a noise signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Kanayama, Naohisa Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 10743836
    Abstract: A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mischa Megens, Jan Suijver
  • Patent number: 10748648
    Abstract: A system for delivery of medical images, comprising an operator device to send a request to a delivery service coupled with a data storage system, where the request comprises an identifier. A medical image file in the data storage system comprises meta data associated with the identifier. The medical image file is converted into a format compatible with a determined output modality based on the meta data for a recipient device. The system can include a mobile viewer device to receive a converted medical image file, where the meta data associated with the determined output modality includes device-dependent data in header fields pertaining to the recipient device which is to receive the converted medical image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TRICE IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Westin, Johanna Wollert Melin, Asa Sjoblom Nordgren
  • Patent number: 10736592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing complex reality three-dimensional images and a system for same, the method comprising: (a) a step for determining first reality three-dimensional spatial coordinates for a three-dimensional image of a human body; (b) a step for determining second reality three-dimensional spatial coordinates for an image of an item of medical equipment; (c) a step for obtaining a three-dimensional image of the area surrounding the medical equipment, from an imaging means in the medical equipment, and determining third reality three-dimensional spatial coordinates for said image; (d) a step for examining an image that is at the same coordinates in the three kinds of three-dimensional spatial coordinates; and (e) a step for producing a complex reality three-dimensional image by selecting the one image that is at the same coordinates, if there is one image at the same coordinates, or selecting the necessary image or images from among a plurality of images, if there are mult
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: CATHOLIC KWANDONG UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Cheesoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 10729407
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to one embodiment includes correlation matrix calculating circuitry, calculating circuitry, image generating circuitry, and controlling circuitry. The correlation matrix calculating circuitry calculates a correlation matrix of a scanned region consisting of a plurality of scan lines, from a data array of pieces of reflection wave data collected from the same position by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves in the scanned region across a plurality of frames. The calculating circuitry calculates a filter coefficient for suppressing a clutter generated by a tissue, by performing principal component analysis using the correlation matrix, and by performing a matrix operation of approximating a clutter component as a principal component and of suppressing the clutter component. The image generating circuitry generates ultrasound image data from blood flow information estimated using the filter coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10726741
    Abstract: A system and method for converting a commercial diagnostic ultrasound transducer into a medical training device that is used for simulated ultrasound training; or a system and method for adding a training option to a standard ultrasound diagnostic system by attaching a motion sensor accessory to the commercial diagnostic ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Eric Savitsky, Gabriele Nataneli
  • Patent number: 10722303
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The methods includes evaluating a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and determining the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (sympathetic or parasympathetic or none) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using said method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SYMAP MEDICAL (SUZHOU), LIMITED
    Inventor: Jie Wang
  • Patent number: 10716544
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate obtaining two dimensional (2D) ultrasound images, using two or more ultrasound imaging modes or modalities, to generate 2D multi-parametric ultrasound (mpUS) images and/or to generate a three-dimensional (3D) mpUS image. The different ultrasound imaging modes acquire images in a common frame of reference during a single procedure to facilitate their registration. The mpUS images (i.e., 2D or 3D) may be used for enhanced and/or automated detection of one or more suspicious regions. After identifying one or more suspicious regions, the mpUS images may be utilized with a real-time image to guide biopsy or therapy the region(s). All these processes may be performed in a single medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ZMK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Rajesh Venkataraman, Saradwata Sakar, Xu Yang, Michael Ahmadi, Pablo Medina
  • Patent number: 10714639
    Abstract: An on-chip mode converter-based silicon-germanium photoelectric detection apparatus comprises an insulating substrate, an optical coupler, an on-chip mode converter and a multi-mode silicon-germanium photoelectric detector. The optical coupler, the converter and the photoelectric detector are sequentially connected and all fixed on silicon wafers of the insulating substrate. An incident fundamental mode optical signal is transmitted to the optical coupler through a single-mode fiber, enters the converter via the optical coupled. The converter converts the fundamental mode optical signal into a multi-mode optical field and enters the photoelectric detector, which converts the multi-mode optical field into an electrical signal. Heavily germanium-doped region are located in areas with relatively weak distributed light intensity of the multi-mode optical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: WUHAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Xi Xiao, Daigao Chen, Miaofeng Li, Ying Qiu
  • Patent number: 10709417
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, there is provided a device including a processor configured to control a robotic system to autonomously position a transducer at a plurality of locations adjacent a subject's skull and to autonomously locate a window on the subject's skull within which an artery can be located, from which artery a signal can be returned to the transducer, the signal having an energy level exceeding a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Neural Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael O'Brien, Nicolas Canac, Michael Costa, Trevor Dunlop, Roman Flores, II, Robert Hamilton, Ilyas Patanam, Shankar Radhakrishnan, Mina Ranjbaran, Corey Thibeault, Samuel Thorpe, Seth Wilk, Jan Zwierstra
  • Patent number: 10702719
    Abstract: Methods for treating an extravascular hematoma in a patient can include liquefying a first portion of the extravascular hematoma by applying a first series of focused acoustic pulses to the extravascular hematoma at a first frequency; and liquefying a second portion of the extravascular hematoma by applying a second series of focused acoustic pulses to the extravascular hematoma at a second frequency. Liquefied remains of the extravascular hematoma can be aspirated from the patient following liquefaction and disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Tatiana Khokhlova, Thomas J. Matula, Wayne L. Monsky, Yak-Nam Wang
  • Patent number: 10701905
    Abstract: A weighing station device, a computer-implemented method and a computer program product for estimating a weight of an animal. The weighing station device includes a stall for the animal, a camera in the stall that is activated to capture a plurality of digital images of the animal when a presence of the animal is detected at the stall. A processor obtains the plurality of digital images from the camera, constructs a three-dimensional digital image of the animal from the plurality of digital images, determines a dimension of the animal from the three-dimensional digital image, and estimates the weight of the animal from the determined dimension and a model relating the dimension of the animal to the weight of the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levente Klein, Robin Lougee, Fernando J. Marianno
  • Patent number: 10697939
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an imaging probe including an array with a plurality of elements and a drive system configured to move the transducer array with a first pitch during data acquisition. A console includes a transmit circuit configured to excite the elements to transmit a first sequence of different sub-sets of the elements and then a second sequence, wherein the plurality of elements is offset from each other by a predetermined shift for the sequences. The console further includes a receive circuit configured to receive echo signals from the elements for the sequences. The console further includes a processor configured to beamform the received signals for the sequences and generate scanlines for the sequences and configured to combine pairs of scanlines across the sequences to produce a single sequence with a second pitch that is less than the first pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: B-K Medical Aps
    Inventors: Henrik Jensen, Fredrik Gran, Jens Munk Hansen
  • Patent number: 10698609
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory system and an operating method thereof. The memory system may include a shared memory device to store data, a sharing manager to store operation policy information and to autonomously generate a first internal command by using the operation policy information during an auto mode started in response to receiving an auto mode start command from a host, and a memory controller to generate a second internal command for controlling the shared memory device in response to the first internal command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min Soo Lim
  • Patent number: 10695030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound elastography system and method for providing a strain image of an anatomical site. The system comprises a signal processing unit (103) configured to receive a time-varying ultrasound signal from an ultrasound probe (101) having at least one transducer element, to determine axial motion data based on the time-varying ultrasound signal, the axial motion data indicating a relative axial motion between the ultrasound probe and the anatomical site in an axial direction (y), and to determine a lateral variation of the axial motion in a lateral direction (x) based on the axial motion data. The system further comprises a display unit (105) configured to display a strain image (200) of the anatomical site based on strain image data which is determined based on the axial motion data, and to display an indication of lateral variation of a quality of the strain image based on the lateral variation of the axial motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: David W. Clark, Elizabeth Brunelle
  • Patent number: 10687780
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technology that prevents a part of a touch panel-equipped display displaying an ultrasonic tomographic image from getting dirty with a fingerprint or scratch when using a drag operation to change the content of the ultrasonic tomographic image displayed on the touch panel-equipped display. According to this technology, the display screen is divided into an ultrasonic image area A1 which displays an ultrasonic image P and an operating part display area A2 which displays buttons (Fov, Pos, ROI, and Dop) for selecting a change to be made in the ultrasonic image P. The operating part display area A2 has a touch panel, and when a finger F selectively touches one of the displayed buttons and is dragged, the displayed image P of the ultrasonic image area A1 is changed on the apparatus side according to the selected changes and drag direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Seiichi Fukai, Masahiro Saito, Takashi Sakai, Yukiko Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10693053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an intravascular ultrasonic transducer and a structure for same, the method for producing a ultrasonic transducer producing a single element by: forming a piezoelectric element lapped according to a previously set thickness; depositing conductive material on the lapped surface of the piezoelectric element; forming a matched layer and a rear surface layer by casting the front and rear surfaces of the piezoelectric element to which conductive material has been deposited; lapping according to a previously set thickness; and dicing the bulk material, which is a stack of a matched layer, a piezoelectric element and a rear surface layer, along the stack direction so that the size of the element is less than the critical size for intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SOGANG UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Chang, Tai-Kyong Song, Yang Mo Yoo, Junsu Lee
  • Patent number: 10675004
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a cine buffer in which image frames produced during an examination are stored. A processor is programmed to select one or more image frames from the cine buffer for presentation to an operator for approval and inclusion in a patient record or other report. The operator can accept the proposed image frames or can select one or more other image frames from the cine buffer. The processor may select image frames at spaced intervals in the cine buffer for presentation. Alternatively, the processor compares image frames in the cine buffer with one or more target image frames. Image frames that are similar to the target image frames are presented to the operator to confirm. Alternatively, image frames can be selected by the processor that contain a specific feature or that are similar to image frames that were previously selected by the operator when performing a particular type of examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Lundberg, Gina Kelly, Kerem Karadayi
  • Patent number: 10674998
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic endoscope in which the position of an ultrasonic oscillator can be easily adjusted with respect to a surgical-tool guide opening provided to a leading end part body of an insertion unit, and a method of manufacturing the ultrasonic endoscope. According to the present invention, an ultrasonic oscillator can be positioned with respect to and temporarily fixed to an ultrasonic-oscillator housing part by using spacers and or protrusions. With this configuration, in an ultrasonic endoscope according to the present invention, the position of the ultrasonic oscillator can be adjusted with respect to the ultrasonic-oscillator housing part by using the spacers or the protrusions. Accordingly, the position of the ultrasonic oscillator can be adjusted with respect to a surgical-tool guide opening provided to a distal end part body of an insertion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10667790
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for portable medical ultrasound imaging. Certain embodiments provide a multi-chip module for an ultrasound engine of a portable medical ultrasound imaging system, in which a transmit/receive chip, an amplifier chip and a beamformer chip are assembled in a vertically stacked configuration. Exemplary embodiments also provide an ultrasound engine circuit board including one or more multi-chip modules, and a portable medical ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound engine circuit board with one or more multi-chip modules. Exemplary embodiments also provide methods for fabricating and assembling multi-chip modules as taught herein. A single circuit board of an ultrasound engine with one or more multi-chip modules may include 16 to 128 channels in some embodiments. Due to the vertical stacking arrangement of the multi-chip modules, a 128-channel ultrasound engine circuit board can be assembled within exemplary planar dimensions of about 10 cm×about 10 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Teratech Corporation
    Inventors: Alice M. Chiang, William M. Wong, Noah Berger
  • Patent number: 10667792
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment performs ultrasonic scans having a plurality of times of ultrasonic transmission and reception as a basic unit, and acquires reception signals respectively for reception rasters allocated with respect to a predetermined region of a subject. The apparatus generates first signals corresponding to the reception rasters respectively by performing adding processing or low-pass filtering having a time of the ultrasonic scan as a unit with respect to the reception signals respectively acquired for the reception rasters, and acquires power information of a moving body in the predetermined region based on a second signal to be obtained by performing an MTI filtering with respect to the first signals. The apparatus acquires velocity information of the moving body based on a third signal obtained by performing the MTI filtering with respect to the reception signals respectively acquired for the reception rasters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10671885
    Abstract: A method and system for classifying tissue suspected of being abnormal as being malignant or benign. The method includes generating a set of selection features, performing statistical applications to generate additional selection features, generating a feature vector for the abnormal tissue, feeding the feature vector into a neural network, and obtaining a result from the neural network as to whether the abnormal tissue is malignant or benign. The method and system may be used for determining the presence of cancers such as breast cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Ping Zhang
  • Patent number: 10660614
    Abstract: An ultrasonic processing apparatus includes a viscoelastic coefficient calculation unit that calculates a viscoelastic coefficient of an object from an ultrasonic signal acquired through an oscillator of a probe; and a spatial change amount calculation unit that calculates spatial change amount of the viscoelastic coefficient calculated by the viscoelastic coefficient calculation unit and outputs the calculated spatial change amount as brightness information when displaying an image relating to the viscoelastic coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10660605
    Abstract: An image processing module includes a beamforming unit configured to provide a beamformed signal based on an input signal; a point spread function (PSF) database comprising at least one two-dimensional point spread function obtained based on at least one situational variable of the beamformed signal; and an image generation unit configured to select at least one two-dimensional point spread function from the point spread function database and perform deconvolution using the beamformed signal and the selected at least one two-dimensional point spread function to generate an image of a target portion of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo Young Kang, Sung Chan Park, Kyu Hong Kim, Jung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10653389
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosing device is provided for diagnosing a state of a to-be-examined part based on echo signals caused by ultrasonic signals. The device includes a container body containing liquid and capable of coming in close contact with a to-be-examined body, an ultrasonic wave penetrating part having ultrasonic penetrability and covering an opening formed in the container body, a probe having an ultrasonic wave transmitting part configured to transmit the ultrasonic signals, and a drive mechanism configured to move the probe inside the container body and change a position of the ultrasonic wave transmitting part. The probe being soaked in the liquid inside the container body in a state where the ultrasonic wave transmitting part is separated from the ultrasonic wave penetrating part, and the ultrasonic signals being transmitted to the to-be-examined body through the liquid and the ultrasonic wave penetrating part by the ultrasonic wave transmitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Kiyan, Takeshi Kawajiri, Mitsuhiko Hataya
  • Patent number: 10653387
    Abstract: Method for functional imaging of the brain, comprising the following steps: (a) a brain is imaged by ultrasound imaging in order to obtain a vascular image to be studied (IVO), (b) the vascular image to be studied (IVO) is compared automatically, by shape recognition, with a cerebral vascular atlas (AV), and the vascular image to be studied (IVO) is thus located in the cerebral vascular atlas (AV), (c) a cerebral functional atlas (AF) corresponding to said cerebral vascular atlas (AV) and comprising cerebral functional zones (1c) located in this cerebral vascular atlas (AV) is used in such a way as to identify cerebral functional zones (1e) on the vascular image to be studied (IVO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTÉ ET DE LA RECHERCHE MÉDICALE (INSERM), CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS), ÉCOLE SUPERIEURE DE PHYSIQUE ET DE CHIMIE INDUSTRIELLES DE LA VILLE DE PARIS, UNIVERSITÉ PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE (PARIS 6), UNIVERSITÉ PARIS DIDEROT—PARIS 7
    Inventors: Mickaél Tanter, Jean-luc Gennisson, Thomas Deffieux, Mathieu Pernot
  • Patent number: 10646180
    Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a compression system configured to receive and compress an object to be imaged. The compression system includes a first compression paddle and a second compression paddle. The imaging assembly further includes an ultrasound system including a first ultrasound probe coupled to the first compression paddle. The first ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a first portion of the ultrasound image information of the object. The ultrasound system also includes a second ultrasound probe coupled to the second compression paddle. The second ultrasound probe is configured to acquire a second portion of the ultrasound image information of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg Davis, Ying Mao, Paul Langford Carson, Oliver Daniel Kripfgans, Jeffrey Brian Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 10648951
    Abstract: A pattern recognizing ultrasonic testing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The ultrasonic probe can be configured to acquire ultrasonic measurements from target, where the ultrasonic measurements can contain one or more ultrasonic patterns representing a target characteristic. The analyzer can be in communication with the ultrasonic probe. The analyzer can also be configured to receive the ultrasonic measurements, receive a first classifier configured to identify a predetermined target characteristic based upon one or more predetermined first ultrasonic patterns, examine the received ultrasonic measurements using the first classifier, and identify ultrasonic patterns of the received ultrasonic measurements that correspond to the predetermined ultrasonic patterns as representing the predetermined target characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Jobst
  • Patent number: 10639001
    Abstract: Shear Wave Dispersion Vibrometry (SDUV) is performed such that, after a single instance of their push pulse (218), a plurality of tracking pulses (222) are issued to sample, more than once, each of a plurality of locations (120, 148) on an associated monochromatic shear wave (116) in sampling that at least one of scans the plural locations in separate passes and, with a pulse of the plural tracking pulses, samples multiple ones of the plural locations concurrently. In a supplementary aspect, phase difference, for a given moment, is determined by taking into account intersample delay (156), if the determination relies on samples that are taken at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Hua Xie, Anna Teresa Fernandez, Michael R. Burcher, Douglas Maxwell
  • Patent number: 10631790
    Abstract: A vital sign measurement apparatus including: an input operation section; a first measurement section capable of measuring first vital signs; first and second operating systems; a first arithmetic processing section that runs on the first operating system and that arithmetically processes the first vital signs on the basis of an input signal from the input operation section, thereby generating a first arithmetically processed signal; a second arithmetic processing section that runs on the second operating system, that is communicable with the first arithmetic processing section, and that generates a second arithmetically processed signal on the basis of the input signal from the input operation section by use of the first arithmetically processed signal transmitted from the first arithmetic processing section; and an output control section that can receive the first and second arithmetically processed signals and that outputs at least one of the received arithmetically processed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Toyomura, Asao Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10631775
    Abstract: Axial stress or similar properties in a stressed tendon or ligament are measured by mechanical excitation of a shear wave in the tendon or ligament measured using ultrasonic displacement techniques at least two different longitudinal positions to derive a shear wave propagation speed. This shear wave propagation speed may be equated to an axial stress on the tissue using a model. Rapidly repeated measurements allow dynamic axial stress measurements to be obtained for clinical study.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Darryl Gerard Thelen, Jack Anthony Martin, Matt S. Allen, Daniel Joseph Segalman, Laura Ann Slane
  • Patent number: 10624695
    Abstract: A method of ablating a tissue region within a blood-filled environment comprises restraining a fluid within a visualization field in a portion of the blood-filled environment and visualizing the tissue region through the fluid within the visualization field. The method also includes transmitting ablating electrical energy from the fluid into the visualized tissue region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Zachary J. Malchano, Chris A. Rothe, Vahid Saadat, Ruey-Feng Peh, David Miller, Edmund A. Tam
  • Patent number: 10627510
    Abstract: An ultrasound beamformer architecture performs the task of signal beamforming using a matrix of analog random access memory cells to capture, store and process instantaneous samples of analog signals from ultrasound array elements and this architecture provides significant reduction in power consumption and the size of the diagnostic ultrasound imaging system such that the hardware build upon this ultrasound beamformer architecture can be placed in one or few application specific integrated chips (ASIC) positioned next to the ultrasound array and the whole diagnostic ultrasound imaging system could fit in the handle of the ultrasonic probe while preserving most of the functionality of a cart-based system. The ultrasound beamformer architecture manipulate analog samples in the memory in the same fashion as digital memory operates that can be described as an analog store—digital read (ASDR) beamformer. The ASDR architecture provides improved signal-to-noise ratio and is scalable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Sergei V. Koptenko
  • Patent number: 10624609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing shear wave elastography using push and/or detection ultrasound beams that are generated by subsets of the available number of transducer elements in an ultrasound transducer. These techniques provide several advantages over currently available approaches to shear wave elastography, including the ability to use a standard, low frame rate ultrasound imaging system and the ability to measure shear wave speed throughout the entire field-of-view rather than only those regions where the push beams are not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: James F. Greenleaf, Shigao Chen, Pengfei Song, Heng Zhao
  • Patent number: 10617391
    Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun-ho Yang, Hyoung-jin Kim, Jin-young Choi
  • Patent number: 10617393
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device includes: a probe including a plurality of elements; a transmission unit that transmits an ultrasonic beam by performing transmission focusing in a first direction from the plurality of elements; a reception unit that generates element data by processing reception signals output from the plurality of elements that has received an ultrasonic echo generated by the transmitted ultrasonic beam; an element data processing unit that generates reflection component removal data by removing a reflection component generated from the first direction from the element data; an image generation unit that generates an ultrasonic image by performing reception focusing for the element data; and a control unit that controls the image generation unit to generate an image signal along a second direction different from the first direction by performing reception focusing in the second direction for the reflection component removal data generated by the element data processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamamoto, Shoji Hara
  • Patent number: 10613206
    Abstract: A compact delay circuit that can dynamically change delay time is configured. A probe includes an analog memory unit that accumulates electric charges corresponding to a reflected wave of an ultrasonic wave produced by a difference between the acoustic impedances on a plurality of capacitors 303 and in turn outputs the electric charges accumulated on the capacitors 303 to an analog memory unit 205. In accumulating electric charges, when a control signal Ctls_l that increases delay time of the reflected wave is inputted, the analog memory unit 205 accumulates the same electric charges on two or more of the capacitors 303 for a preset period, or in outputting electric charges, when a control signal Ctlo_l is inputted, the analog memory unit 205 outputs the electric charges accumulated on one of the capacitors 303 for a preset period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakagawa, Hiroshi Masuzawa, Shinya Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 10600514
    Abstract: To overcome the difficulties inherent in conventional treatment planning approaches, new techniques are described herein for providing an intuitive user interface for automatic structure derivation in patient modeling. In an embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that provides a list of structures of a specified region. The interface uses medical terminology instead of mathematical one. In one or more embodiments, the list of structures may be a pre-defined list of structures that correspond to that region for the purposes of treatment planning. A user is able to actuate a toggle to include and/or exclude each of the structures separately. In one or more embodiments, the user is also able to actuate a toggle to define a perimeter around each included structure, and further define a margin around the perimeter. The user is also able to specify whether the desired output should include a union or the intersection of all included structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Varian Medical Systems International AG.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Haas, Thomas Coradi, Tomasz Morgas
  • Patent number: 10596601
    Abstract: The image sorting system sorts normal chicken breast meat fillets from chicken fillets that exhibit wooden breast myopathy (i.e. WB fillets). In the preferred embodiment, a camera and associated controller gather data and construct a digital image of a chicken breast fillet as it travels on a conveyer belt. The digital image is used to calculate a centroid (i.e. center of mass) of the fillet. As the fillet moves over a nose of the conveyor belt and free-falls to a lower conveyor belt, the controller determines the distance between the fillet centroid and a reference point (preferably the conveyer belt axis of rotation). If the distance exceeds a predetermined minimum distance, the fillet is designated a WB fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Seung C. Yoon, Brian C. Bowker, Hong Zhuang, Kurt C. Lawrence, Gerald W. Heitschmidt, Tae Sung Shin
  • Patent number: 10600136
    Abstract: A method includes identifying medical concepts in identified patient cases that are missing from medical concepts in first electronically formatted medical information as missing medical concepts, and selecting an imaging protocol for an imaging procedure based on a combination of the medical concepts from the first electronically formatted medical information and the missing medical concepts, and generating a signal indicative of the selected imaging protocol. A method includes identifying at least one of one or more medical concepts as a relevant additional concept, and selecting an imaging protocol for the imaging procedure based on a combination of one or more clinical indications and the relevant additional concept, and generating a signal indicative of the selected imaging protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Eric Cohen-Solal, Michael Chun-Chieh Lee
  • Patent number: 10588603
    Abstract: An information providing method which is implementable by using an ultrasound apparatus includes obtaining ultrasound image data which relates to an object; displaying, on a first area of a screen, a gain setup window for setting a gain of the obtained ultrasound image data; receiving a gain which is set by a user on the gain setup window; and displaying, on a second area of the screen, an ultrasound image of the object to which the set gain is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun-ho Yang, Hyoung-jin Kim, Jin-young Choi
  • Patent number: 10589089
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for the treatment of injured peripheral nerves or other tissue using electrical stimulation. The systems can be used either in intraoperative or peri-operative settings and incorporate the use of either a plurality of monopolar electrodes with a patch used as return or a plurality of bipolar electrodes such as a cuff. The systems can provide hands-free delivery of electrical stimulation therapy over a predetermined set of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Epineuron Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Willand, Sergio David Aguirre
  • Patent number: 10588602
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound apparatus includes a sampler configured to obtain an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal from an ultrasound signal; a memory configured to store the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal and output the stored in-phase signal and the stored quadrature signal according to a first time delay; an interpolator configured to interpolate the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal outputted from the memory; and a phase rotator configured to apply a second time delay to the interpolated in-phase signal and the interpolated quadrature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bae Hyung Kim, Kyu Hong Kim, Su Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 10588600
    Abstract: An acoustic matching member configured to be disposed between a breast placed on an imaging table and a compression plate disposed opposite to the imaging table is proposed. The acoustic matching member includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward the imaging table and that is provided in an end portion on a deepest side when viewed from a chest wall side of a subject in a case of compressing a breast of the subject in contact with the compression plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Arai, Takeyasu Kobayashi, Takao Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10586018
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating, with the assistance of a computer system (12), a medical report (18) suitable for automatic billing, where an electronic template (39) suited for a specific patient's condition is selected out of a plurality of given electronic templates stored in storage means (15); personal data of the specific patient's and previously stored in storage means (11) are automatically entered into the selected electronic template; and medical report text passages and instructions are entered into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system (13); additionally, condition data are automatically entered on the basis of condition information as far as stored in storage means (7) into the selected template, and code data associated with these condition information are automatically embedded in the selected template; and when entering medical report text passages, at least one predetermined voice macro stored in the storage means (16) together with code data embedded
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehmet M. Oez
  • Patent number: 10582912
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: a data obtainer configured to obtain volume data of an object; a display configured to display a reference cross-section of the object extracted from the volume data; a user input unit configured to receive a user input selecting a reference object included in the displayed reference cross-section; and an image processor configured to normalize the volume data by using location information of the reference object, and to extract a coronal plane of the object based on information of at least one anatomical landmark included in the normalized volume data, and the display is further configured to display the extracted coronal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-sang Yoo, Kwang-hee Lee, Sung-yoon Kim