Used As An Indicator Of Another Parameter (e.g., Temperature, Pressure, Viscosity) Patents (Class 600/438)
  • Patent number: 11399805
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device detecting shear wave propagation velocity through push pulse transmission. The ultrasound diagnostic device includes: a push pulse transmitter that transmits a push pulse; a detection wave transmitter/receiver that, following the push pulse transmission, transmits plane wave transmission detection waves towards a region of interest (ROI) inside a subject and receives reflection detection waves from the subject, to generate receive signals sequentially; a displacement detector that detects subject tissue displacement occurring inside the ROI due to a shear wave; and a shear wave analyzer that detects a shear wave propagation velocity based on the subject tissue displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11397227
    Abstract: A method for quantitatively measuring a physical characteristic of a material includes performing one or more interrogations of a material sample, each interrogation using a push focal configuration. The method further includes taking measurements of displacement over time of a material sample caused by the one or more interrogations. Each measurement uses an interrogation focal configuration. The method further includes determining a physical characteristic of the material sample based on the measurements of displacement over time of the material sample. According to the method, at least one of the following is true: a tracking focal configuration used for one of the measurements is different from a tracking focal configuration used for another of the measurements; and a push focal configuration used for one of the interrogations is different from a push focal configuration used for another of the interrogations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
    Inventors: Caterina M. Gallippi, Keita Andrew Yokoyama, Md Murad Hossain
  • Patent number: 11382518
    Abstract: Some aspects of the invention may be directed to a system and method of determining an occurrence of inter-vascular occlusion. The method may include: receiving, from a first sensor, a first indication, related to blood flow in a first artery supplying blood to a first hemisphere of a subject's brain; receiving from one of: the first sensor and a second sensor, a second indication related to the blood flow in a second artery supplying blood to a second hemisphere of the subject's brain; comparing the first and second indications; and determining an occurrence of an inter-vascular occlusion based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: FASTBREAK MEDICAL LTD
    Inventor: Doron Bushi
  • Patent number: 11369341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for characterising bone, the method comprising the steps of receiving (102) ultrasonic wave echo signals transmitted into a body, determining (104) a speed of sound in the body's non-bone biological tissue, locating (106) a first demarcation curve between non-bone biological tissue and bone in an image of the body constructed during said determining step, and determining (108) a speed of sound in bone. The steps of determining speed include constructing images from the signals, and a metric calculation indicative of a focus quality in the constructed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: SORBONNE UNIVERSITE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS), INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE (INSERM), ECOLE SUPERIEURE DE PHYSIQUE ET DE CHIMIE INDUSTRIELLES DE LA VILLE DE PARIS
    Inventors: Guillaume Renaud, Didier Cassereau
  • Patent number: 11357480
    Abstract: A quantitative shear wave elasticity imaging method and system relates to the technical field of medical ultrasound imaging. The provided ultrasound quantitative elasticity imaging method and system are based on a sliding window linear fitting strain and use a two-dimensional linear fitting shear wave velocity detection algorithm, and thus, the anti-noise capability is stronger, and the result is more reliable. Moreover, where the load of an ultrasonic front-end storage and transmission module is not additionally in-creased, global ultrasonic quantitative elasticity imaging is realized, thereby significantly reducing the design difficulty of the ultrasound quantitative elasticity imaging system and the device cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Saset Chengdu Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Hao Yin, Dan Shi, Xiyao Liu, Dongquan Liu
  • Patent number: 11353429
    Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of bubbles in a solution includes an ultrasonic receiver, receiving a pair of signals having different frequencies after passage through the solution, and a computing unit. The computing unit computes a signal value for each of the signals, the signal value representing a defined signal property, compares the signal values for the signals with each other and/or each with a predefined reference value, and computes a deviation of the signal values from each other and/or between the signal values and the predefined reference value. The computing unit generates a bubble confirmation signal that confirms the presence of bubbles in the solution if the deviation is greater than a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY NORGE AS
    Inventors: Hakon Boe, Bjornar Berge Lie
  • Patent number: 11327163
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using constructive shear wave displacement is provided. The method includes generating a first shear wave in the target region at a first excitation position and a second shear wave in the target region at a second excitation position; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region at a tracking position that is between the first and second excitation positions; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses at the tracking position in the target region; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a constructive shear wave displacement from the first and second shear waves simultaneously displacing tissue at the tracking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Mark Palmeri, Kathryn R. Nightingale
  • Patent number: 11317888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents to accomplish noninvasive subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) in a region of interest (ROI) of a subject. The method of the invention provides a non-invasive, direct, and accurate method for pressure estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY, GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Flemming Forsberg, David Mills, John R. Eisenbrey, Kirk Wallace, Ipshita Gupta
  • Patent number: 11304682
    Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing myocardial strain imaging in an inverse framework to identify mechanical properties of the heart and to determine structural and functional milestones for the development and progression to heart failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: William M. Torres, Francis G. Spinale, Tarek M. Shazly
  • Patent number: 11295448
    Abstract: Images can be generated indicating damaged brain tissue based on the disruption of blood supply. First imaging data can be generated by a first imaging technique that can be a vascular imaging technique, such as CT-perfusion imaging or CT angiography. Second imaging data can be generated by a second imaging technique that can be a non-perfusion-based imaging technique, such as non-contrast CT imaging, or the unenhanced portion of a CT-perfusion imaging examination. Intensity values of voxels of the first imaging data can be analyzed to determine a first region of interest in which brain tissue damage may be present. Intensity values of voxels of the second imaging data can be analyzed to determine a second region of interest in which brain tissue damage may be present. An aggregate image including overlays corresponding to the first region of interest and the second region of interest can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: iSchemaView, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Bammer, Matú{hacek over (s)} Straka, Jürgen Endres
  • Patent number: 11284864
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a system and method of estimating the viscoelasticity of a material. The system and method includes receiving a plurality of time-amplitude curves measured at a plurality of space points. The time-amplitude curves reflect time evolutions of a propagating mechanical wave. The system and method also include estimating the viscoelasticity of a material between any set of space points using the time-amplitude curves measured at those space points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITES EINDHOVEN
    Inventors: Massimo Mischi, Ruud Johannes Gerardus Van Sloun
  • Patent number: 11260248
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed related to using acoustic waves to detect neural activity in a brain and/or localize the neural activity in the brain. Sensors positioned outside of a skull encasing the brain can detect acoustic waves associated with the neural activity in the brain. From output signals of the sensors, a particular type of neural activity (e.g., a seizure) can be detected. A location of the neural activity can be determined based on outputs of the sensors. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy can be applied to the location of the neural activity in response to detecting the neural activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Butrus T. Khuri-Yakub, Kamyar Firouzi, George Quintin Stedman
  • Patent number: 11234673
    Abstract: Methodology, with a programmable-processor imaging system, for control and determination of breast lesion viscoelastic properties with the use of a creep-like test. Two dimensional reconstruction maps are used for different parameters of a linear viscoelastic model. Description of different aspects of the test used on live subjects and suitability of a 1-D inversion model in capturing different viscoelasticity parameters. An automated methodology for the selection of a region of interest derived only from the appearance of the breast lesion on pre-compressed B-mode images. Based on the ROI and estimated viscoelasticity parameters, contrast values are determined that facilitate the enhanced differentiation of breast mass. Employing the methodology in a large group of patients provides better understanding of variations of different viscoelasticity parameters in different types of breast lesion and helps to identify new biomarkers for enhanced differentiation of benign from malignant cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Mostafa Fatemi, Mahdi Bayat, Alireza Nabavizadehrafsanjani, Azra Alizad
  • Patent number: 11234672
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe configured to acquire a plurality of shear wave data segments from a target object; a controller configured to determine at least one shear wave data group by grouping the plurality of shear wave data segments according to a predetermined condition; and a display configured to display at least one image corresponding to the at least one shear wave data group, and display the plurality of shear wave data segments at positions different from a specific position at which the image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sun-Mo Yang
  • Patent number: 11229387
    Abstract: A bladder volume detection device, the device comprising a sound transmitter and at least one receiver the device configured to ping the bladder with an acoustic signal having a resonant frequency of up to about 20 k Hz generated with said transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Eduard Papirov
  • Patent number: 11224348
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an implantable device for monitoring properties of cerebrospinal fluid of a patient. In one embodiment, the device may include a housing, a processor, a support member, one or more sensors, and a data storage. The sensors may be in communication with the processor and configured to detect one or more properties of cerebrospinal fluid. The device may be configured for transmitting the data and receiving instructions by an operator for the delivery of a therapeutic agent or imaging agent from a reservoir disposed within the housing in operable communication with a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: JSR Research, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Sam Robinson, Tigran Khachatryan
  • Patent number: 11228753
    Abstract: Pointers are added to a 3D volumetric dataset to help the user visualize the direction of blood flow. A 3D volume containing at least one blood vessel is created. Next, the direction of the blood flow is determined. Next, at least pointer is placed into the 3D volume in an aligned fashion with the direction of blood flow such that the 3D volume is modified. Next, the modified 3D volume is displayed on a head display unit, such as an augmented reality or virtual reality display. Next, at least one pointer is advanced to a new position for additional modification of the 3D imaging volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Douglas, David Byron Douglas
  • Patent number: 11219376
    Abstract: In some examples, a device includes sensing circuitry configured to receive one or more signals from a patient and processing circuitry configured to determine a plurality of autoregulation state values associated with a plurality of blood pressure values based on the one or more signals. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine that a first autoregulation state value of the plurality of autoregulation state values is anomalous based on other autoregulation state values of the plurality of autoregulation state values. The processing circuitry is also configured to modify the first autoregulation state value in response to determining that the first autoregulation state value is anomalous and determine an autoregulation status of the patient based on the plurality of autoregulation state values including the modified first autoregulation state value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Dean Montgomery, Paul S. Addison, Andre Antunes
  • Patent number: 11202061
    Abstract: Pointers are added to a 3D volumetric dataset to help the user visualize the direction of blood flow. A 3D volume containing at least one blood vessel is created. Next, the direction of the blood flow is determined. Next, at least pointer is placed into the 3D volume in an aligned fashion with the direction of blood flow such that the 3D volume is modified. Next, the modified 3D volume is displayed on a head display unit, such as an augmented reality or virtual reality display. Next, at least one pointer is advanced to a new position for additional modification of the 3D imaging volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Douglas, David Douglas
  • Patent number: 11179581
    Abstract: Stimulating cell activity within a tissue is performed by an ultrasound array transducer having a plurality of transducer elements and a controller that actuates a plurality of transducer elements to emit focused acoustic energy to a plurality of focal zone locations in a scan direction at a focal zone scan rate. The actuation of the plurality of transducer elements to emit focused acoustic energy to the plurality of focal zone locations in the scan direction at the focal zone scan rate is repeated for a plurality of sweep cycles at a sweep rate which stimulates cells for optimal tissue growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
    Inventor: Yi-Xian Qin
  • Patent number: 11162833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying a calibration of an ultrasonic spirometer, the method comprising determining an actual value of a distance between a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer of a spirometer, determining a difference between the actual value of the distance and a nominal value of the distance that is assigned to the spirometer, and accepting an actual calibration of the spirometer if an absolute value of the difference is smaller than or equal to a first threshold value, or refusing the actual calibration of the spirometer if the absolute value of the difference is bigger than the first threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is 5% of the nominal value of the distance. The invention further relates to a spirometer that is adapted to carry out this method as well as to a method for calibrating a spirometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ndd Medizintechnik AG
    Inventor: Christian Buess
  • Patent number: 11154275
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, a method for controlling the same, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus including the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic probe includes a housing; a first contact sensing portion located at one position of an outer surface of the housing, and configured to detect contact; and a second contact sensing portion located at a different position from the first contact sensing portion, and configured to detect contact. A combination of contact sensing results obtained from the first contact sensing portion and the second contact sensing portion is determined such that an operation corresponding to the determined combination of the contact sensing results is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Gu, Gil-Ju Jin
  • Patent number: 11129598
    Abstract: A system and method includes transmission of an ultrasound push pulse toward material along a first axis, the ultrasound push pulse associated with a first frequency, a first F number, and a first focal depth, determination of displacement of the material along the axis in response to the push pulse, transmission of a second ultrasound pulse toward the material along the first axis, the second ultrasound pulse associated with a second frequency, a second F number, and a second focal depth substantially similar to the first frequency, the first F number, and the first focal depth, respectively, reception of echo signals from the material in response to the second ultrasound pulse, beamforming of the echo signals based on the first F number and a fixed focus at the first focal depth, determination of a magnitude of the beamformed echo signals along the axis, determination of relative elasticity of the material along the axis based on the determined displacement of the material along the axis and the magnitude o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, John Benson
  • Patent number: 11123044
    Abstract: A signal processing device according to an embodiment includes adjustment circuitry and processing circuitry. The adjustment circuitry adjusts a received signal based on an echo of an ultrasonic wave transmitted to a subject with gain corresponding to a location at which the echo has been generated. The processing circuitry corrects the received signal that has been adjusted by the adjustment circuitry and calculates an index value relating to attenuation by using the corrected received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yuko Kanayama
  • Patent number: 11103208
    Abstract: A pulmonary function measurement device, a pulmonary function measurement method, and a pulmonary function measurement program are disclosed. The pulmonary function measurement device for measuring data for evaluating a pulmonary function includes a sound output unit configured to be fixed to a body surface on one of front and rear sides of a lung, and outputs a sound toward the lung; a sound detection unit configured to be fixed to a body surface on one of the front and rear sides of the lung different from the side on which the sound output unit is to be fixed, and detects the sound from the sound output unit; a measurement unit configured to calculate a transmission time from when the sound output unit outputs the sound to when the sound detection unit detects the sound; and a variation calculation configured to calculate the amount of variation in the transmission time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoki Utsugida, Shin Maki
  • Patent number: 11089972
    Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively monitoring intracranial pressure are provided. In some aspects, the method comprises acquiring diffuse correlation spectroscopy data at a temporal resolution greater than a pulsatile frequency of cerebral blood flow of a subject using one or more optical sensors placed about a subject, and determining a pulsatile cerebral blood flow using the acquired data, The method also includes correlating the determined pulsatile cerebral blood flow with physiological data acquired from the subject, and estimating an intracranial pressure based on the correlation. The method further includes generating a report indicative of the estimated intracranial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Sutin, Maria Angela Franceschini, David Boas
  • Patent number: 11058397
    Abstract: A method for quantifying the elasticity of a material by ultrasounds, comprising the generation of one excitation point, for generating a shear wave, a measurement of the shear wave at a plurality of lines of sight placed in a region of interest at different predetermined distances from the first excitation point, the calculation of the speed of the measured shear wave and the assessment, by calculation, of a mean stiffness value of the material in the region of interest on the basis of the measured speed of the shear wave. In the acquired image, a second excitation point is defined, in such a position that the region of interest is interposed between the first excitation point and the second excitation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Esaote S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Carlini, Fulvio Biordi
  • Patent number: 11039781
    Abstract: A device calculates a score reflecting a state of liver damage, the calculating device being designed to calculate a score using the following physical parameters: a parameter corresponding to inflammation and/or fibrosis; and a parameter corresponding to steatosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ECHOSENS
    Inventors: Véronique Miette, Laurent Sandrin, Magali Sasso
  • Patent number: 11039777
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes calculation circuitry, acquisition circuitry, determination circuitry, and scan control circuitry. The calculation circuitry calculates an indicator related to motion of biological tissue in a subject, based on echo data obtained through a pre-scan for the subject. The acquisition circuitry acquires a periodic biological signal of the subject. The determination circuitry specifies at least one tune phase in one cycle of the biological signal acquired during the pre-scan, based on the indicator, and determines a timing of a main scan for the subject, based on the specified time phase and the biological signal acquired after the pre-scan. The scan control circuitry executes the main scan at the timing determined by the determination circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Honjo, Tetsuya Kawagishi, Akihiro Kakee, Yuko Kanayama, Masaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11026660
    Abstract: A displacement measurement apparatus includes an ultrasound sensor transmitting ultrasounds to an object in accordance with a drive signal, and detecting ultrasound echo signals generated in the object to output echo signals; a driving and processing unit supplying the drive signal to the sensor, and processing the echo signals from the sensor to obtain ultrasound echo data; and a controller controlling the driving and processing unit to yield an ultrasound echo data frame at each of plural different temporal phases based on the ultrasound echo data obtained by scanning the object. The ultrasound echo data has one of local single octant spectra, local single quadrant spectra, and local single half-band-sided spectra in a frequency domain. The ultrasound echo data is obtained from plural same bandwidth spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Chikayoshi Sumi
  • Patent number: 11013488
    Abstract: Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) systems and methods are disclosed that measure a blood pressure, and in some examples a beat-to-beat blood pressure, of a patient without restricting blood flow. The NIBP systems determine an efficacy of administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the patient based on the measured blood pressure and are able to optionally output the CPR efficacy or generate user prompts based on the CPR efficacy. Further, the disclosed NIBP systems can generate user instructions to administer further treatment to the patient based on the CPR efficacy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Clinton T. Siedenburg, Arthur T. Lounsbery, Mitchell A. Smith, Robert G. Walker
  • Patent number: 11000258
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement device which allows noninvasive and accurate measurement of arteriovenous pressure, and also provides an arteriovenous pressure measurement method using the measurement device. The noninvasive arteriovenous pressure measurement device comprises a probe (20) for radiating ultrasound toward a blood vessel in the skin, a pressing part (10) for pressing the skin in a state of being placed between the skin and the probe (20), and a pressure sensor (33) for detecting a pressing force applied to the skin at the pressing part (10), the pressing part (10) having water (36) permeable to the ultrasound and a balloon (31) accommodating the water (36), the flexible container (31) being made of a flexible material permeable to the ultrasound, and an outer surface of the balloon (31) presses the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Kurume University
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tomoeda
  • Patent number: 11000196
    Abstract: A pressure pulse wave measurement apparatus includes: a sensor unit in which an element column including a plurality of pressure detection elements that are arranged side by side in one direction is formed; a pressing unit configured to press the sensor unit against a body surface of a living body; and a rotation control member configured to rotate the sensor unit about each of two axes that are orthogonal to a pressing direction of the pressing unit. The rotation control member includes a first member and a second member that are relatively rotated about a rotation axis extending in the pressing direction, and the first member and the second member both include a motion conversion mechanism for converting a rotational motion realized by the first member and the second member being relatively rotated, into a rotational motion of the sensor unit about each of the two axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsunori Kondo, Toshihiko Ogura
  • Patent number: 11000199
    Abstract: A pressure pulse wave measurement apparatus includes: a sensor unit; a pressing unit configured to press the sensor unit; and a rotation control member configured to rotate the sensor unit about each of two axes orthogonal to a pressing direction of the pressing unit. The rotation control member includes a first member, a first rotation member and a second rotation member. The first member and the first rotation member both include a first motion conversion mechanism for converting a rotational motion realized by the first rotation member being rotated, into a rotational motion of the sensor unit about one of the two axes, and the first member and the second rotation member both include a second motion conversion mechanism for converting a rotational motion realized by the second rotation member being rotated, into a rotational motion of the sensor unit about the other of the two axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsunori Kondo
  • Patent number: 10987088
    Abstract: It has been discovered that even mild changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure or intracranial pressure (ICP) can be detected immediately as evidenced by distortions in the ONS surface structure. Further, the changes in the ONS persist after the CSF pressure has returned to normal. The stability of ONS distortions provides a method of detecting transient changes in brain pressure even when the use of the diagnostic ultrasound is delayed. One embodiment provides systems and methods for detecting or diagnosing brain injury by detecting distortions or deformations of the ONS, preferably using ultrasound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Lyon
  • Patent number: 10959703
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region using shear wave displacement are provided. The method includes a) generating at least one shear wave with an excitation pulse in the target region at an excitation position; b) transmitting tracking pulses in a tracking region, at least a portion of which is outside the target region; c) receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the tracking region; d) repeating steps A through C for one or more additional excitation positions within the target region, wherein at least two of the excitation pulses overlap and the tracking region associated with each excitation position overlaps with the tracking region associated with at least one other excitation position; and e) determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on at least one parameter of a shear wave displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Peter J. Hollender, Gregg E. Trahey
  • Patent number: 10959704
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, transmission unit transmitting a first ultrasonic wave for generating a shear wave in an object to a first region and a second ultrasonic wave to a second region, reception unit generating a reception signal based on the second ultrasonic wave, displacement amount calculation unit calculating a displacement amount of a tissue accompanying propagation of the shear wave to the second region by using the reception signal, arrival time decision unit deciding an arrival time when the shear wave has arrived at each position in the second region, based on a temporal change in the displacement amount concerning the each position, and image generation unit generating based on the arrival time and predetermined pixel values corresponding to the arrival times, a shear wave arrival time image with the pixel values being assigned corresponding to the arrival times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Kanayama, Tetsuya Kawagishi
  • Patent number: 10945660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monitoring biological tissue during a delivery of energy. A probe-driving unit repeatedly drives an integrated push-and-track transducer unit, which is external to the control device, in repeatedly providing at least one ultrasonic push pulse (302) that is suitable for displacing biological tissue at a monitoring location (M), and in providing ultrasonic track pulses (301, 303) suitable for detecting tissue displacement occurring in response to the push pulse at the monitoring location, and in detecting and delivering ultrasonic tissue-response signals (R) relating to the track pulses. An evaluation unit receives the tissue-response signals, determines in real time whether a normalized displacement quantity has reached a threshold value, and provides an output signal when the threshold value has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sheng-Wen Huang, Ajay Anand, Shriram Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 10939894
    Abstract: Ultrasound-based acoustic streaming for deciding whether material is fluid is dependent upon any one or more of a variety of criteria. Examples are displacement, speed, temporal or spatial flow variance, progressive decorrelation, slope or straightness of accumulated signal to background comparisons over time, and relative displacement to adjacent soft tissue. Echogenicity-based area identification is combinable with the above movement characteristic detection in the deciding. Fluid pool identification is performable from the area-limited acoustic streaming testing and ultrasound attenuation readings. Candidates from among the areas are screenable based on specific shapes or bodily organs detected. Natural flow can be excluded from streaming detection by identification of blood vessels. Processing for each FAST ultrasound view, or for the entire procedure, is performable automatically, without need for user intervention or with user intervention to identify suspected areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shougang Wang, Balasundar Iyyavu Raju, Shiwei Zhou, Jingping Xu
  • Patent number: 10925533
    Abstract: A system and method of determining human performance capacity, and of determining the utility of a given biomedical intervention and/or neurotechnology device to characterize, to predict, and to influence human performance capacity, via analysis and interpretation of psychophysiological biomarkers of cognitive workload and functioning, assistive-technology/external support dependence, and compensatory behavior during performance of ecologically-valid standardized work samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Jeff Scott Bruno
  • Patent number: 10924308
    Abstract: System and method for identifying an RF emitter include: channelizers for channelizing RF signals into several channels; a compressive sensing (CS) encoder for each channel to CS encode the channelized signal to produce an encoded channelized signal in each of the plurality of channels; a summer to sum the encoded channelized signals of all of the plurality of channels to produce an I/Q data; a channelized pulse detection circuit to detect pulses in each channel and produce encoded pulse snippets from the I/Q data; a CS decoder for each channel to CS decode the encoded pulse snippets; a first machine learning device to characterize the decoded pulse snippets and to produce pulse description words (PDWs); and a second machine learning device to associate the PDWs with one or more RF emitters and identify the one or more RF emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Applied Signal Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michelle L. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10905368
    Abstract: A bedwetting monitoring method implemented by a computer, bladder monitoring device and a patient alert device and includes determining a urination volume of a bladder of a patient at which a patient will urinate, determining a trigger volume of the bladder of the patient representing a volume that is less than the urination volume, monitoring a volume of the bladder of the patient with a bladder monitoring device, and alerting the patient with the patient alert device at the trigger volume to wake the patient prior to urination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GOGO BAND, INC.
    Inventor: Israel Franco
  • Patent number: 10881381
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic system comprises: a first transceiver for performing transmission/reception of first ultrasound for detecting shear waves generated in a subject by mechanical vibration; a second transceiver for performing transmission/reception of second ultrasound to/from the subject; a computing section for calculating a value of a parameter affecting a frequency of the first ultrasound to be transmitted from the first transceiver based on echo signals obtained by transmission/reception of the second ultrasound; an identifying section for identifying one first transceiver from among a plurality of kinds of first transceivers each having a different frequency of said first ultrasound based on the value of said parameter; and a display device for displaying the first transceiver identified by the identifying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Saika Nagai, Teck Chuan Beh, Naohisa Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 10861218
    Abstract: An exemplary volumetric reconstruction system accesses first and second color and depth data captured for a surface point on a surface of an object in a real-world capture space. The first color and depth data is captured by a first capture device positioned to have a first vantage point of the surface of the object, while the second color and depth data is captured for the surface point by a second capture device positioned to have a second vantage point of the surface of the object. Based on the first and second color and depth data, the volumetric reconstruction system determines a confidence field value for a voxel node corresponding to the surface point, and, based on that confidence field value, generates reconstructed color and depth data for a volumetric reconstruction of the surface of the object. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Oliver S. Castaneda
  • Patent number: 10849750
    Abstract: A catheter (4) based medical system (1) and medical procedure for reducing cardiac valve regurgitation are disclosed. The system comprises a resilient curvilinear shaped annuloplasty implant (3) for reducing the size of a dilated annulus (18) of said valve for reducing said regurgitation having resilient anchoring elements (300), and a delivery device (2) for said annuloplasty implant (3) having a distal curvilinear shaped portion (200) that is hollow to mount said annuloplasty implant (3) and has an annular opening (201) arranged to be in apposition against an annulus (18) of said cardiac valve. The annuloplasty implant (3) is arranged to be releasable in said hollow and has said resilient anchoring elements (300) arranged in a restrained spring loaded delivery conformation in said hollow, and wherein said resilient anchoring elements (300) when released are arranged in a tissue engaging conformation protruding out of said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: Anders Jönsson
  • Patent number: 10850045
    Abstract: A puncture injection instrument including a hollow needle body including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the hollow needle body having one or more projections which are formed on the first surface and each have a through hole penetrating from a distal end of the projection to the second surface of the substrate, and one or more probes positioned outside a region where the one or more projections are formed. The one or more probes include an ultrasound probe or an optical coherence tomography probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kodama, Tomoya Sumida
  • Patent number: 10849679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat sink parameter determination apparatus for determining a parameter of a heat sink like a blood vessel within an object such as a person (3) by minimizing a deviation between a measured temperature distribution, which has preferentially been measured by ultrasound thermometry, and a modeled temperature distribution, wherein the modeled temperature distribution is modeled based on a provided heat source parameter like the location of an ablation needle (2) and the heat sink parameter to be determined by using a given thermal model. This determination of heat sink parameters, which may be geometric and/or flow parameters, considers the real temperature distribution and is thus based on real heat sink influences on the temperature distribution. This can lead to an improved determination of heat sink parameters and hence to a more accurate temperature distribution which may be determined based on the determined heat sink parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ajay Anand, Shriram Sethuraman, Sheng-Wen Huang, Junbo Li
  • Patent number: 10838573
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable mediums are provided for selecting a precise value within a large value range. Data received from an ultrasonic testing environment can include a range of values associated with one or more parameters to be configured for performing ultrasonic inspection of a test object. A control in a user interface of the ultrasonic testing environment can be provided and include a display portion displaying one or more parameters and one or more values within the range of values associated with the one or more parameters. The control also includes an interactive portion configured to receive a plurality of inputs. Based on the inputs a selected value associated with a first parameter can be determined. The selected value associated with the first parameter can be output as a static display within the display portion of the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GE SENSING & INSPECTION TECHNOLOGIES, GMBH
    Inventor: Ralf Ratering
  • Patent number: 10795007
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for imaging a visco-elastic medium (2). The method comprises an excitation step during which an internal mechanical stress is generated in an excitation zone [A] and an imaging step of acquiring signals during the movements generated by the mechanical stress in the visco-elastic medium (2) in response to the internal mechanical stress in an imaging zone [B] that includes the excitation zone [A]. According to the invention, the method further comprises a step of calculating a quantitative index [Cij] associated with the rheological properties of the visco-elastic medium (2) at at least one point [Bij] of the imaging zone situated at a given depth outside the excitation zone [A].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Super Sonic Imagine
    Inventors: Jérémy Bercoff, David Savery, Claude Cohen-Bacrie, Jacques Souquet
  • Patent number: 10786178
    Abstract: This invention relates to a breathing tube for use in ultrasonic flow measurement systems for determining the volume flow and/or the molar mass of the respiration of humans and animals. According to the invention, the breathing tube at least partly has a polygonal cross-section. Furthermore at least one indicator is formed on the breathing tube, which can be read out via an external optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: NDD MEDIZINTECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Christian Buess, Erich Kleinhappl, Martin Sengel