Anatomic Image Produced By Reflective Scanning Patents (Class 600/443)
  • Patent number: 11210765
    Abstract: An image processing method and device, storage medium and computer device are provided. The method includes: generating an original gray scale image of an original image; performing a histogram equalization process on the original gray scale image to obtain an equalized gray scale image; generating decision factor distribution image, wherein the decision factor distribution image includes a first marked region including a region where pixels that are adjacent in position and have standard deviations smaller than set value in the original image are located, and second marked region; obtaining final gray scale image according to original gray scale image, equalized gray scale image and decision factor distribution image. Gray scale values of pixel corresponding to second marked region and first marked region in final gray scale image are respectively gray scale values of corresponding pixel in equalized gray scale image and original gray scale image; and restoring a processed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Guo, Xibin Shao, Chengqi Zhou, Ming Chen, Shou Li, Jieqiong Wang
  • Patent number: 11207013
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to estimating an interior diameter of a hollow organ. As such, one aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can include a light-based distance sensor and a device housing the light-based distance sensor located within the hollow organ. The light-based distance sensor can include an emitter and a detector. The emitter can transmit a conical beam of light to an inner surface of a hollow organ. The detector can receive a portion of the light back-reflected from the inner surface of the hollow organ. The device can determine a volume of the hollow organ based on a signal related to the back-reflected portion of the light, which can be based on a distance between the light-based distance sensor and the inner surface of the hollow organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    Inventors: Margot S. Damaser, Steve Majerus
  • Patent number: 11204291
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an interface ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve establishment method and a loading testbed. The loading testbed comprises a force displayer, a control terminal, an oscilloscope, an immersion ultrasonic transducer, a large cylinder, a small cylinder, an upper panel, a movable plate, a force sensor, a lower panel, an ultrasonic transceiver and a small cylinder connecting plate. Compared with the existing schemes, the interface ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve establishment method and the loading testbed provided by the present invention can construct a more accurate ultrasonic reflectivity-pressure relation curve, and are high in detection precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qingchao Sun, Bo Yuan, Wei Sun, Weiqiang Huang
  • Patent number: 11190331
    Abstract: A physical layer (PHY) device comprises a phase interpolator to generate a set of sampler clocks. A sampler of the PHY device samples a calibration data pattern based on the set of sampler clocks. A data alignment system of the PHY device performs a coarse calibration and a fine calibration on the sampler clock signals. During the coarse calibration, the data alignment system moves the sampler clock signals earlier or later in time relative to the sampled data based on a first bit of the sampled data. During the fine calibration, the data alignment system moves the sampler clock signals earlier or later in time relative to the sampled data based on the first bit, a second bit, and a third bit in the sampled data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren B. Reiss, Scott David Huss, Fred Staples Stivers, James Dennis Vandersand, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11176681
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an external scenery sensor that images at least one target, and an image generation unit that generates a virtual image corresponding to at least one of the targets which are moving among the imaged targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Aonuma, Kaoru Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11170519
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an image memory, an operation unit, a measurement item designation receiving unit for receiving a designation of a measurement item, a detection measurement algorithm setting unit that sets a detection measurement algorithm, a frame designation receiving unit that receives a designation of a frame to be used for the measurement among a plurality of frames in the image memory, a measurement position designation receiving unit that receives a designation of a position of a measurement target on a first measurement frame received by the frame designation receiving unit, a measurement position setting unit that sets the position of the measurement target on a frame other than the first measurement frame, a measurement unit that detects the measurement target on the plurality of frames to calculate the measurement value, and a final measurement value calculation unit that calculates a final measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsurou Ebata
  • Patent number: 11166700
    Abstract: A segmentation selection system includes a transducer (14) configured to transmit and receive imaging energy for imaging a subject. A signal processor (26) is configured to process imaging data received to generate processed image data. A segmentation module (50) is configured to generate a plurality of segmentations of the subject based on features or combinations of features of the imaging data and/or the processed image data. A selection mechanism (52) is configured to select one of the plurality of segmentations that best meets a criterion for performing a task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shyam Bharat, Amir Mohammad Tahmasebi Maraghoosh, Jean-Luc Robert, Dirk Binnekamp
  • Patent number: 11170679
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application disclose time division display control methods and apparatus and display devices, wherein a time division display control method disclosed comprises: displaying a first image by a display device; and changing display pixel distribution of the display device at least once within a preset permitted staying duration of vision of human eyes and displaying the first image by the display device changed each time, to cause the displayed first images to be displayed in human eyes as a second image in an overlapped manner. According to the present application, utilization of display pixels of a display device and a display quality of at least a local part of an image can be improved, thereby better meeting diversified actual application demands of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHIGU RUI TUO TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang Zhou, Lin Du
  • Patent number: 11160536
    Abstract: To lessen the examination time in an Ultrasound system in a vascular Exam routine, it is desirable to: automatically position in the best way Color Doppler ROI and/or Sample Gate; select the best Color Doppler/Beamline Steering angle; and set the Doppler Correction angle. An algorithm is provided that is able to process in real time the Doppler Signal to identify the Doppler Area where the most significant flow is present, and then it analyzes the ‘Shape’ of such Color Doppler Area identifying the Position and direction of the “main” Flow. The vascular Examination routine can therefore be made easier and faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Esaote S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Faraggi
  • Patent number: 11159972
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for handling of radio frequency (RF) front-end group delays for round trip time (RTT) estimation. In an aspect, a network entity determines a network total group delay (GD) and a user equipment (UE) determines a UE total GD. The network entity transmits one or more RTT measurement (RTTM) signals to the UE. Each RTTM signal includes a RTTM waveform. The UE determines one or more one or more RTT response (RTTR) payloads for one or more RTTR signals. Each RTTR signal also includes a RTTR waveform. The UE transmits the RTTR signal(s) to the network entity. For each RTTR signal, a transmission time of the RTTR waveform and/or the RTTR payload is/are determined based on the UE total GD. The network entity determines a RTT between the UE and the network entity based on the RTTM signal(s), the RTTR signal(s), and the network total GD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sony Akkarakaran, Tao Luo, Joseph Binamira Soriaga, Alexandras Manolakos, Naga Bhushan, Guttorm Ringstad Opshaug, Sven Fischer
  • Patent number: 11151719
    Abstract: This invention relates to estimating the window width and window level (center) which are typically used to view and then transform diagnostic imaging data to grayscale images. These grayscale images are then used to check the presence of diseases or abnormalities. For each individual diagnostic image, this invention automatically estimates the most appropriate values. This automatic estimation is done by a specialized module added on to a convolutional neural network-based disease detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caide Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manohar Karki, Kye Wook Lee, Jung Hwan Cho
  • Patent number: 11151697
    Abstract: A basic image generation unit generates a base frame by synthesizing a reception frame sequence obtained by transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves, and an edge-enhanced image generation unit generates a compensation frame where an edge component of an object is emphasized based on the reception frame sequence. A synthesis unit generates an output frame by synthesizing the base frame and the compensation frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Fujii
  • Patent number: 11141138
    Abstract: Kalman filtering, including a model of system dynamics, is used to identify flash artifact. The Kalman filtering predicts the velocity or powers based on a past sequence of velocity or power. The prediction defines a confidence interval. Any current measures surpassing the confidence interval are identified as flash artifact and suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Sui, Kathryn Ozgun
  • Patent number: 11135454
    Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of brain tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. In one embodiment, the system includes an ultrasound therapy transducer, a drainage catheter, and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposed in the drainage catheter. The ultrasound therapy is configured to transmit ultrasound pulses into the brain to generate cavitation that liquefies a target tissue in the brain. The drainage catheter is configured to detect the ultrasound pulses. An aberration correction algorithm can be executed by the system based on the ultrasound pulses measured by the drainage catheter to automatically correct for an aberration effect caused by the ultrasound pulses passing through a skullcap of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Zhen Xu, Jonathan Sukovich, Aditya S. Pandey, Charles A. Cain, Hitinder S. Gurm
  • Patent number: 11138723
    Abstract: An analyzing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a tissue characteristic parameter value with respect to each of a plurality of positions within a region of interest, by analyzing a result of a scan performed on a patient. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a measurement region in the region of interest by performing an analysis while using the tissue characteristic parameter values. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a statistic value of the tissue characteristic parameter values in the measurement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Honjo, Yu Igarashi, Masaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11116474
    Abstract: Ultrasound adaptive imaging methods and/or systems provide for modification of waveform generation to drive a plurality of transducer elements. The modification may be based on at least one of contrast ratio or signal to noise ratio as determined with respect to control points in a region of interest. Further, image reconstruction may be performed upon separating, from pulse echo data received, at least a portion thereof received at each ultrasound transducer element from the region of interest in response to the delivered ultrasound energy corresponding to a single frequency of one or more image frequencies within a transducer apparatus bandwidth. The image reconstructed from the separated pulse-echo data corresponding to the single frequency of the one or more image frequencies may be used alone or combined with like image data (e.g., to provide an image representative of one or more properties in the region of interest).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Emad S. Ebbini, Dalong Liu, Andrew J. Casper
  • Patent number: 11116480
    Abstract: A method includes registering a region of interest in 3-D imaging data with an initial ultrasound image so that the region of interest is in an imaging plane of the initial ultrasound image. The method further includes acquiring a subsequent ultrasound image with a transducer array. The method further includes comparing the initial ultrasound image and the subsequent ultrasound image. The method further includes steering at least one of the transducer array or an instrument based on a result of the comparing so that at least one of the region of interest or the instrument is in the imaging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BK Medical Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Francis Zanin, Spiros Mantzavinos, Ram Naidu
  • Patent number: 11109842
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system and method that enhance the visualization of selected individual images from a real-time scan. The method can include acquiring ultrasound image data at an ultrasound system. The method may include processing the acquired ultrasound image data according to cine sequence processing parameters to generate a cine sequence. The cine sequence includes a plurality of frames, each of the frames having a first resolution. The method can include receiving a trigger. The method may include processing the acquired ultrasound image data according to still image processing parameters in response to the trigger to generate a still image. The still image has a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Erwin Fosodeder, Helmut Brandl, David Puehringer
  • Patent number: 11109832
    Abstract: Real time strain imaging is provided by acquiring a sequence of cardiac image frames and estimating tissue displacement in the myocardium over a heart cycle. The displacements may be estimated using speckle tracking and are used to calculate strain over the myocardium. A color map is formed of the strain values. During the next heart cycle the color map is warped to fit the myocardium in each image frame and the warped color map is displayed as a color overlay over the myocardium of each image of the new heart cycle as they are displayed in real time. A new color map is also produced over the new heart cycle for use with the following heart cycle. An ultrasound system which performs real time strain imaging is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Abhay Vijay Patil, Atul Ingle, Karl Erhard Thiele
  • Patent number: 11113898
    Abstract: A method for generating an ultrasound image, comprising displaying a rendered image of a target from an edge of a full box encompassing the target. An input regarding a selection of a half box may be received from a user. When the half box is not selected, the rendered image may continue to be displayed. When the half box is selected, a new image may be rendered from a reference of the full box, and the rendered image may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Brandl, Heinz Schmied
  • Patent number: 11107196
    Abstract: A basic image generation unit generates a base frame by synthesizing a reception frame sequence obtained by transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves, and an edge-enhanced image generation unit generates a compensation frame where an edge component of an object is emphasized based on the reception frame sequence. A synthesis unit generates an output frame by synthesizing the base frame and the compensation frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Fujii
  • Patent number: 11103214
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a probe configured to be equipped with plural transducers arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and be able to perform a two-dimensional scan in the first and second directions; a moving device configured to support the probe and mechanically move the probe in the second direction; a receiving circuit configured to generate first reception signals for respective moving positions of the probe in the second direction by performing receiving phase-compensation and summation processing on respective reflected signals received by the plurality of transducers at each of the moving positions; and processing circuitry configured to generate a second reception signal by performing moving aperture synthesis on the first reception signals generated for the respective moving positions of the probe based on positional information of the probe and generate image data from the second reception signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Mine, Kazutoshi Sadamitsu, Masami Takahashi, Masatoshi Nishino, Norihisa Kikuchi, Naoyuki Nakazawa, Atsushi Nakai, Jiro Higuchi, Yutaka Kobayashi, Cong Yao, Kazuo Tezuka, Naoki Yoneyama, Atsushi Sumi
  • Patent number: 11096664
    Abstract: A method of performing an ultrasound scan of cellular tissue by placing a flexible membrane overlaid with ultrasonic coupling material as part of a probe enclosure adjacent the cellular tissue, pressurizing the probe enclosure, moving an ultrasound probe within the probe enclosure over the flexible membrane with the head of the ultrasound probe submerged in the ultrasonic coupling material and displaced from the flexible membrane and generating a plurality of cross-sectional images of the cellular tissue as the ultrasound probe moves over the flexible membrane. The ultrasonic probe may be driven by a programmable controller. A flat surface of an axilla pad may be placed adjacent the flexible membrane and an examination wedge may be placed under one lateral side of a patient to raise the one lateral side of the patient above the other lateral side of the patient when the flexible membrane is placed adjacent to the cellular tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SONOCINE, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11096662
    Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from received echoes is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MAUI IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Donald F. Specht
  • Patent number: 11099263
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system (100) includes a transducer array (102) with a plurality of transducer elements (106) configured to transmit an ultrasound signal, receive echo signals produced in response to the ultrasound signal interacting with structure, and generate electrical signals indicative of the echo signals. The system further includes a beamformer (112) configured to process the electrical signals and generate radio frequency data, an in-phase quadrature processor (114) configured to process the radio frequency data and generate in-phase quadrature data, and a frame processor (116) configured to envelope detect and log compress the in-phase quadrature data, producing compressed envelope data. The system further includes a time gain compensation controller (120) configured to continuously process the in-phase quadrature data and the compressed envelope data and continuously and automatically apply time gain compensation data to an envelope data image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BK Medical APS
    Inventor: Bo Martins
  • Patent number: 11096665
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device includes: a probe including plural elements that generate and transmit ultrasound waves and receive ultrasound waves reflected from an inspection target; a transmission unit that transmits ultrasound waves from the plural elements so as to transmit an ultrasound beam by forming a transmission focus in a first direction set in advance; and a second reception focusing unit that performs reception focusing for each reception signal received by each element of the probe according to reflection on a path in a second direction other than the first direction, among transmission wave paths of the ultrasound beam transmitted into the inspection target by the transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kimito Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 11092680
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an array of ultrasound transducer elements chat send ultrasound energy into an object when energized for respective transmission time periods and provide responses to ultrasound energy emitted from the object for respective reception time periods, a reception modulation circuit modulating the responses with irregular sequences of modulation coefficients, a combiner circuit combining the modulated responses, and an image reconstruction processor configured to computer-process the combined modulated responses into one or more images of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventors: Zeljko Ignjatovic, Michael Huang, Swetha George
  • Patent number: 11083517
    Abstract: A method for cardiac treatment, which includes acquiring and saving an initial map of a chamber of a heart of a patient in an initial ablation procedure, with locations of ablation lesions marked on the initial map. In preparation for a redo ablation procedure, subsequent to the initial ablation procedure, a current map of the chamber is acquired, the initial map is registered with the current map, and the locations of the ablation lesions from the registered initial map are marked and displayed on the current map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: George Monir, Aharon Turgeman, Tal Haim Baron, Gal Hayam
  • Patent number: 11080829
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a display module, the control apparatus includes: at least one memory and at least one processor which function as: acquiring information which is added to input image data and relates to at least one of a maximum brightness of an input image represented by the input image data and an upper limit brightness being an upper limit value of a dynamic range of the input image, and controlling the display module so as to display a setting image for setting a target range to be displayed on the display module among the dynamic range of the input image data, wherein the setting image includes an index indicating a brightness determined based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11076830
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The ultrasound imaging apparatus includes an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) sensor configured to determine whether an UCA flows in an object based on an echo signal that is reflected by the object in a mechanical index environment. The ultrasound imaging apparatus further includes a controller configured to obtain at least one among an UCA image and a tissue image of the object in another mechanical index environment lower than the mechanical index environment in response to the UCA sensor determining that the UCA flows in the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su Hyun Park, Kyu Hong Kim, Bae Hyeong Kim, Jung Ho Kim, Joo Young Kang, Young Ihn Kho, Yun-Tae Kim, Sung Chan Park
  • Patent number: 11071461
    Abstract: An acoustic wave detector detects photoacoustic waves generated by absorbing measurement light emitted toward a subject, and reflected acoustic waves with respect to acoustic waves transmitted toward the subject. A preamplifier amplifies a detection signal output by the acoustic wave detector. A bypass unit is intended to output the detection signal without passing through the preamplifier. Controller causes the preamplifier to enter an operating state and selects a first path along which the detection signal is amplified by the preamplifier and then is input to the reception circuit as a signal path in a case where the photoacoustic waves are detected. The controller stops an amplification operation in the preamplifier and selects a second path along which the detection signal is input to the reception circuit via a bypass unit as the signal path in a case where reflected acoustic waves are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Hashimoto, Atsushi Osawa, Kaku Irisawa, Keiji Tsubota
  • Patent number: 11071516
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method in which ultrasound signals are transmitted into a living organism, reflected from fluid flowing along a path within the organism, and received by an ultrasound transceiver system with a resolution limit in a first direction. These signals are used to generate data representing a sequence of images over time; each image including a speckle pattern arising from interference within the reflected ultrasound signals. A peak-sharpening operation is applied to the image data, generating data representing a sequence of resolution-enhanced images, each having a resolution in the first direction finer than the resolution limit of the transceiver system in that direction, and including a respective peak-sharpened speckle pattern. A combining operation is applied to generate data representing an output image in which the path of the fluid is represented by a superimposition of the peak-sharpened speckle patterns from the resolution-enhanced images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
    Inventors: Hans Torp, Lasse Lovstakken
  • Patent number: 11064978
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a beam former that drives an ultrasound transducer including two-dimensionally arranged vibration elements and that acquires ultrasound data of a three-dimensional space; a delay calculating circuit sets scan conditions including a drive delay amount of the beam former; a graphic circuit that generates an ultrasound slice image of a predetermined cut surface from the ultrasound data of the three-dimensional space; and a CPU that determines a focal length or a focal depth of the ultrasound according to a distance from the ultrasound transducer to the desirably set cut surface to set an amount of delay to cause the delay calculating circuit to change the scan conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonao Kawashima, Shoichi Matsui, Hiroshi Kodama, Kenichi Nishina, Hironaka Miyaki, Hirotaka Eda
  • Patent number: 11058403
    Abstract: Using ultrasound frame data generated from the ultrasound echo reflected from the living tissue, the movement amount of the living tissue and its representative value are calculated. In a case where the representative value of the tissue movement amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_large having a large degree of hue change is used, and an elastic image in which distortion is expressed by hue corresponding to the magnitude is generated. On the other hand, in a case where the representative value of the movement amount of the living tissue is less than the predetermined threshold value, a hue conversion LUT_small having a small degree of hue change is used to generate an elastic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11058401
    Abstract: The method of the invention determines a physical characteristic on a punctual location inside a medium, and includes including the steps of sending an emitted sequence having emitted pulses that have different amplitudes, receiving a received sequence having received pulses corresponding to echoes of the emitted pulses, calculating a phase difference between the received pulses relative to the emitted pulses, and determining the physical characteristic on the punctual location on the bases of said the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUPER SONIC IMAGINE
    Inventor: Matthew Bruce
  • Patent number: 11062445
    Abstract: A method of medical image registration is to be implemented by a computer device, and includes steps of: obtaining an ultrasound target image corresponding to an area of interest in an ultrasound image; for each of multiple computed tomography (CT) images, obtaining a CT candidate image that corresponds to an area of interest in the CT image; for each of the CT candidate images, calculating a similarity between the CT candidate image and the ultrasound target image; making one of the CT candidate images that corresponds to the greatest similarity among the CT candidate images serve as a CT target image; and performing image registration on the ultrasound target image and the CT target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP., CHINA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bao-Yu Hsieh, Tzung-Chi Huang, Hsien-Te Chen, You-Min Chen, Yi-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 11051789
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus capable of shortening the time required for measurement and calculation of an optimal sound velocity and obtaining an ultrasound image having excellent image quality at a tissue or lesion the operator desires to observe. There are provided an element data memory storing element data; a region-of-interest setter setting a region of interest; an optimal sound velocity calculator calculating an optimal sound velocity at the region of interest using the element data corresponding to the region of interest; a reconstruction region setter setting a reconstruction region that contains the region of interest and is larger than the region of interest; and an image reconstructor generating a reconstructed image by reconstructing the ultrasound image in the reconstruction region based on the optimal sound velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kimito Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 11055899
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a medical imaging and visualization system that provides a user interface enabling a user to visualize a volume rendering of a three dimensional (3D) data set and to manipulate the volume rendering to dynamically select a MPR plane of the 3D data set for generating a B-mode image at the dynamically selected MPR plane. In some examples, the 3D data set is rendered as a 2D projection of the volume and a user control enables the user to dynamically move the location of the MPR plane while the display updates the rendering of the volume to indicate the current location of the MPR plane and/or corresponding B-mode image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: David Nigel Roundhill, Benoit Jean-Dominique Bertrand Maurice Mory, Emmanuel Mocé Serge Attia-Gani, Jean-Michel Rouet
  • Patent number: 11049245
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes: processing circuitry configured to acquire three-dimensional image data including a liver of a donor, extract a region of the liver and vessels in the liver from the three-dimensional image data, and determine, in the extracted region of the liver, a cross section of the liver in such a manner that volume of the liver to be resected from the donor satisfies a predetermined matching condition of transplantation and number of vessels on the cross section becomes smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chihiro Hattori, Kota Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11045165
    Abstract: Disclosed are ultrasound devices and methods for use in guiding a subdermal probe during a medical procedure. A device can be utilized to guide a probe through the probe guide to a subdermal site. In addition, a device can include a detector in communication with a processor. The detector can recognize the location of a target associated with the probe. The processor can utilize the data from the detector and create an image of a virtual probe that can accurately portray the location of the actual probe on a sonogram of a subdermal area. In addition, disclosed systems can include a set of correlation factors in the processor instructions. As such, the virtual probe image can be correlated with the location of the actual probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Soma Research, LLC
    Inventors: M. Dexter Hagy, Stephen F. Ridley
  • Patent number: 11026659
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit and a changing unit. The receiving unit outputs an ultrasound received signal. The changing unit obtains, in accordance with a change in a spatial frequency of ultrasound image data subject to an imaging processing, a group of parameters related to a frequency characteristic of an imaging received signal that is output by the receiving unit as the ultrasound received signal to be used in the imaging processing and changes a center frequency and a frequency band to be used in the imaging processing performed on the imaging received signal, on a basis of the obtained group of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuramitsu Nishihara, Akihiro Kakee
  • Patent number: 11024034
    Abstract: Examples for determining a confidence level associated with image segmentation are disclosed. A confidence level associated with a collective image segmentation result can be determined by generating multiple individual segmentation results each from the same image data. These examples can then aggregate the individual segmentation results to form the collective image segmentation result and measure the spread of each individual segmentation result from the collective image segmentation result. The measured spread of each individual segmentation result can then be used to determine the confidence level associated with the collective image segmentation result. This can allow a confidence level associated with the collective image segmentation result to be determined. This confidence level may be determined without needing a ground truth to compare to the collective image segmentation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ACIST MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Tung, Jung W Suh, Advit Bhatt
  • Patent number: 11020087
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical imaging system for imaging vasculature of a patient is provided. The imaging system includes a console that has one or more processors with a medical imaging system interface running thereon, an acquisition card in communication with the one or more processors and in communication with a patient interface module (PIM), and an intravascular imaging component in communication with the PIM and disposed on a distal end of a flexible elongate member. The medical imaging system interface provides a plurality of settings groups for selection by a user, each of the settings groups having pre-acquisition parameters and post-acquisition parameters that are optimal for imaging a desired viewing target within the vasculature. Associated methods and computer-readable media are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11006926
    Abstract: For region of interest (ROI) placement in quantitative ultrasound imaging with an ultrasound scanner, the ROI is automatically placed using anatomy detection specific to the quantification, signal processing for clutter, attenuation, or noise, and/or identification of regions of fluid. For quantification, multiple ROIs may be positioned automatically. The automatic placement may improve consistency of measures over time and between sonographers and may provide for better image quality with less influence from undesired signals. As a result, diagnosis and/or treatment may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Yassin Labyed
  • Patent number: 11006837
    Abstract: An insertion needle has a light guide member for guiding light emitted from a light source, a light emitting portion for emitting light guided by the light guide member, and a photoacoustic wave generating portion for generating photoacoustic waves caused by light emitted from the light emitting portion. A photoacoustic image generation unit generates a photoacoustic image based on the detection signal of the photoacoustic waves. A distal end candidate extraction unit extracts a distal end candidate region from the shallow side of the image based on the strength of the detection signal of the photoacoustic waves. An image output unit displays the extracted distal end candidate region on an image display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiya Miyachi
  • Patent number: 11006928
    Abstract: Shear wave propagation is used to estimate the speed of sound in a patient. An ultrasound scanner detects a time of occurrence of a shear wave at each of multiple locations. The difference in time of occurrence, given tissue stiffness or shear velocity, is used to estimate the speed of sound for the specific tissue of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, David Duncan, Seungsoo Kim, Stephen Rosenzweig, Liexiang Fan
  • Patent number: 10996333
    Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) for providing an ultrasound image of a volumetric region comprising a region of interest (12) comprising: a probe (10) having an array of CMUT transducers (14); a beamformer (64) coupled to the array and adapted to control the ultrasound beam steering and provide an ultrasound image data of the volumetric region; a transducer frequency controller (62) coupled to the beamformer and adapted to vary operation frequencies of the CMUT transducers within the frequency range, which frequency controller is arranged to set the operation frequency to a first frequency for the ultrasound beam steered in the volumetric region and to set the operation frequency to a second frequency for the ultrasound beams steered within the region of interest, the second frequency being higher than the first frequency; wherein the system further comprises an interferer analyzer (69) coupled to the transducer frequency controller (62), said interferer analyzer is adapted to vary at least one of beam steering pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Antonia Cornelia (Jeannet) Van Rens, Wendy Uyen Dittmer
  • Patent number: 10993698
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes filter processing circuitry and generation circuitry. The filter processing circuitry performs a filter process of removing a still or minute-moving signal on reflected wave signals of an ultrasonic wave transmitted a plurality of times in the same scanning line. The generation circuitry generates reflected wave data through a phasing addition process using reflected wave signal of each channel after the filter process performed by the filter processing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10980493
    Abstract: A classification unit classifies a lung region, which is included in each of two three-dimensional images having different imaging times for the same subject, into a plurality of types of case regions. A mapping image generation unit generates a plurality of mapping images corresponding to the three-dimensional images by labeling each of the classified case regions. A change calculation unit calculates the center-of-gravity position of each case region for case regions at corresponding positions in the mapping images, and calculates the movement amount and the movement direction of the center-of-gravity position between the mapping images as a change of each case region. A display control unit displays information regarding the change on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Osawa
  • Patent number: 10976919
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program. The program presents a selectable user interface (UI) item for toggling between operating in a first mode and operating in a second mode. The program further presents a chart visualization that includes a plurality of selectable data points. Upon receiving a touch input while operating in the first mode, the program also performs a first operation on the chart visualization. Upon receiving the touch input while operating in the second mode, the program further performs a second, different operation on the chart visualization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Ryan Urbach, Brian Mantuano, Damia Ferrer Biosca, Brianna Huxtable, Nathaniel Gray, Santiago Becerra