One-dimensional Anatomic Display Or Measurement Patents (Class 600/449)
  • Patent number: 12059304
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (1) includes a urinary bladder extraction unit (9), a feature quantity calculation unit (10), a candidate frame extraction unit (11), and a urine volume measurement unit (13). The urinary bladder extraction unit (9) extracts a urinary bladder region from ultrasound images of a plurality of frames. The feature quantity calculation unit (10) calculates a feature quantity related to the bladder region. The candidate frame extraction unit (11) extracts, from the ultrasound images of the plurality of frames, an ultrasound image of a frame for which the feature quantity becomes a local maximum, as an ultrasound image of at least one candidate frame that serves as a candidate subjected to measurement. The urine volume measurement unit (13) analyzes an ultrasound image of a measurement frame selected from the ultrasound image of the at least one candidate frame to measure a urine volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsurou Ebata, Tomoki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11995807
    Abstract: Method for ultrasound determination of a corrected image of a medium, the method comprising: determination of a temporal succession of images (Ik) of the medium, determination of the movement for each image of the medium, determination of a temporal succession of partial strain images (I??k) based on images of the medium, determination of corrected partial strain images (I??k*) by compensation of said partial strain images (I??k) based on preceding movements, and determination of a corrected strain image (I?k*) by summation of the preceding corrected partial strain images (I??k*).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SUPERSONIC IMAGINE
    Inventor: Mathieu Couade
  • Patent number: 11914677
    Abstract: An image processing method includes obtaining a sample image, a category label of the sample image, and a label value of the category label. The method further includes calling a preset image processing model to perform segmentation processing on the sample image to obtain at least two sub-regions. The method further includes calling the preset image processing model to perform category prediction on the sample image to obtain a predicted value of the category label. The method further includes updating a network parameter of the preset image processing model according to center coordinates of the sub-regions, the label value of the category label, and the predicted value of the category label. The method further includes performing iterative training on the preset image processing model according to the updated network parameter, to obtain a target image processing model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Sihong Chen
  • Patent number: 11911208
    Abstract: Improved systems and methods for diagnosing an injury of a patient. The system and methods provide for more accurate scans of the injury thereby enabling a combat medic, a medical technician, or even untrained individuals to quickly diagnose the injury. By providing more accurate information, the systems and methods provide the technician with additional information regarding treatment options, such as whether to transport the patient or treat the patient in place, potential for aspiration, and other information about dangerous fluid build-up such as size, depth, and types of surrounding tissues, thereby increasing survivability of the patient. The systems and methods can also provide a diagnosis of the injury as well as suggestions on actions to take to treat the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: The Government of the United States, as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jose Salinas, Ronald D. Grisell, Sena R. Veazey, Saul J. Vega
  • Patent number: 11896426
    Abstract: A system and method for non-invasive and quantitative assessment of the status of bone tissue in a bony member within a living organism are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a transducer and a controller that causes the transducer to generate a pair of axial ultrasound signals traveling in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of the bony member and a radial ultrasound signal traveling towards and into the bony member. The transducer receives multiple portions of each of the axial ultrasound signals and multiple portions of the radial ultrasound signal reflected by the bony member and generates axial and pulse-echo output signals in response. The controller processes the axial and pule-echo output signals to obtain an axial transmission time delay and a pulse-echo time delay, respectively, and generates an estimate of a characteristic of the bone tissue responsive to the axial-transmission and pulse-echo time delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Jonathan Joseph Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11793483
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasound imaging system configured to identify a target placement of an ultrasound probe for viewing a lung pleural line. In some examples, the system may include an ultrasound probe configured to receive ultrasound echoes from a subject to image a region of the subject and a data processor in communication with the ultrasound probe. The data processor may be configured to identify one or more candidate pleural lines and one or more A-lines corresponding to the candidate pleural lines, compute an A-line intensity of at least one of the A-lines, and apply the computed A-line intensity to indicate a target placement of the ultrasound probe for imaging the region for pleural line identification. The system may also include a user interface in communication with the data processor. The user interface may be configured to alert the user of the target placement of the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Balasundar Iyyavu Raju, Shougang Wang, Raghavendra Srinivasa Naidu, Seungsoo Kim, McKee Dunn Poland, Jingping Xu
  • Patent number: 11766244
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound systems and methods configured to determine the elasticity of a target tissue. Systems can include an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire echoes responsive to ultrasound pulses transmitted toward the tissue, which may include a region of increased stiffness. Systems can also include a beamformer configured to control the transducer to transmit a push pulse into the tissue, thereby generating a shear wave in the region of increased stiffness. The beamformer can be configured to control the transducer to emit tracking pulses adjacent to the push pulse. Systems can further include a processor configured to determine a displacement amplitude of the shear wave and based on the amplitude, generate a qualitative tissue elasticity map of the tissue. The processor can combine the qualitative map with a quantitative map of the same tissue, and based on the combination, determine a boundary of the region of increased stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Faik Can Meral, Shriram Sethuraman, William Tao Shi, Pingkun Yan, Jochen Kruecker
  • Patent number: 11763456
    Abstract: The present application includes a method and a software architecture for measuring global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global longitudinal strain rate (GLSr) from 2D echocardiograms. In contrast to conventional GLS computation methods, this approach does not require boundary segmentation and regularization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brett Albert Meyers, Pavlos P. Vlachos
  • Patent number: 11620782
    Abstract: A method that simulates a response of a target person to one or more simulation inputs comprises: contacting a body of a first test subject with a force-sensing probe; measuring a first force applied by the probe to the body of the first test subject; obtaining a first relative movement comprising a first movement of the probe relative to the body of the first test subject; determining one or more model parameters associated with the body of the first test subject based on the measured first force and the first relative movement; incorporating the one or more model parameters into a target model of at least a portion of a body of a target person; obtaining a simulation input for application to the target model; and simulating a response of the target person in response to the simulation input using the target model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Vital Mechanics Research Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Kochikar Pai, Austin Caulfield Rothwell, Alistair Charles Wick, Pearson Andrew Wyder-Hodge, Ye Fan, Egor Larionov, Darcy Alexander Harrison
  • Patent number: 11523774
    Abstract: For tissue property estimation with ultrasound, multiple different types of measurements are performed by an ultrasound system, including scatter measurements and shear wave propagation measurements. The tissue property, such as liver fat fraction, is estimated using a combination of these different types of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yassin Labyed, Andrzej Milkowski
  • Patent number: 11490875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement device for the blood flow of an individual, for example for the detection of bubbles. The device comprises an acoustic emitter and a case with an emission surface capping the acoustic emitter. The emission surface is terminated at one end by a clavicular contact portion perpendicular to the emission surface and suited for coming to rest against a clavicle bone of the individual and is terminated at another end by a shoulder contact portion perpendicular to the emission surface and suited for coming to rest against a bone of the shoulder of the individual. A vertical distance between the middle of an active zone of the emission surface and the clavicular contact portion is less than 20 mm. A transverse distance between the middle of the active zone and the shoulder contact portion is included between 20 and 50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: AZOTH SYSTEMS
    Inventors: CĂ©line Quinsac, Axel Barbaud
  • Patent number: 11442387
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Patent number: 11432800
    Abstract: Described are ultrasound transducer modules and handheld ultrasound imagers including thermal and acoustic management features to produce high quality ultrasound images in a portable, handheld form factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: EXO IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Janusz Bryzek, Jon Henry LeFors, Charles Edward Baumgartner, Thomas Stephen Tarter, Daniela Marisa Fredrick, James Alan Ewanich, Brian Lee Bircumshaw, Joseph Michael Adam
  • Patent number: 11432793
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a transducer array (202) with a plurality of transducer elements (206) configured to transmit a pulsed field beam into a scan field of view, receive echo signals produced in response to the pulsed field interacting with particles/structure flowing/moving in the scan field of view, and generate electrical signals indicative of the echo signals. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a beamformer (212) including multiple synthetic transmit aperture beamformers configured to process the electrical signals over a plurality of processing channels (312) into corresponding receive-beams of RF-data with a beam-level delay, channel-level delays, a beam-level gain and channel-level gains. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a velocity processor (216) configured to estimate a flow velocity of the structure flowing in the scan field of view from the RF-data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BK Medical Aps
    Inventors: Per Haugaard, Gert Seerup
  • Patent number: 11395603
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and/or devices for determining a physiological condition for an individual. The methods, systems, apparatuses, and/or devices may include a housing, a sensor interface, a processing device, and a display device. The sensor interface may be integrated into the housing. The sensor interface include a first sensor operable to take a plurality of physiological measurements of a user over a period of time. The processing device may be coupled to the sensor interface. The processing device may be operable to receive the plurality of physiological measurements; determine a change in the plurality of physiological measurements; and determine a hydration condition measurement for a body based on the change of the plurality of physiological measurements. The display device may be integrated into the housing. The display device may be operable to display a hydration condition indicator associated with the hydration condition measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventors: Devin Warner Miller, David Rich Miller
  • Patent number: 11337644
    Abstract: Method, device and machine for calculating an index representative of properties of a material of the bone type of an individual to be subjected to tests, particularly wherein the method includes a first acquisition step for acquiring at least one image having a plurality of elementary units of a sample of the material, wherein a generation step is provided for generating a grid of elementary geometric elements, or cells, which is associated with, in particular superimposed on, the image, an image processing step in which it is provided to calculate at least the apparent elastic modulus and a density coefficient of the material, both as a function of characteristic values of each cell, and a calculation step for calculating the index representative of the properties of a material, wherein the index is a function of the value of the apparent elastic modulus net of the contribution of the density coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: M2TEST S.R.L., UniversitĂ  degli Studi di Trieste
    Inventors: Francesca Cosmi, Alessandra Nicolosi
  • Patent number: 11291427
    Abstract: A method of analyzing the quality of bone at one or more bone regions during an orthopedic surgical procedure includes an initial audio sample being recorded with an acoustic sensor, while a cutting instrument cuts a first region of a bone. The first audio sample is stored as a reference sample that represents a good degree of bone quality. A second audio sample is recorded with the acoustic sensor, while the cutting instrument cuts a second region of the bone. The second audio sample is compared to the reference sample to analyze the bone quality at the second region of the bone. A system for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Think Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Gibson Elliot, Micah Forstein
  • Patent number: 11090027
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for coupling a flexible transducer to an object are described. A transducer positioning device may include an inflatable bladder and a strap. The inflatable bladder may apply a force to a transducer array to maintain its position against the object when inflated. The strap may hold the bladder against the transducer array. Once in place, the bladder may be inflated with a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Richard Edward Davidsen
  • Patent number: 10959638
    Abstract: Systems and methods can be used to determine conduction velocity and generate one or more conduction velocity and/or pattern maps to facilitate identification of arrhythmogenic mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CARDIOINSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: RĂ©mi Dubois, Corentin Dallet
  • Patent number: 10959622
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for determining an estimated pulse wave velocity of an artery of a subject. Embodiment methods may include applying a series of counter pressures, measuring a first parameter related to pulse wave velocity, estimating a second parameter in a model, and determining the estimated pulse wave velocity. The counter pressures may be applied at a set location on the subject over the artery with a pressure device. Each of the counter pressures may be different from one another, applied at the set location, and between zero and a diastolic pressure of the subject. The first parameter may be measured when each of the series of counter pressures is applied. The model may establish a relationship of the first parameter measured to each of the series of counter pressures. The estimated pulse wave velocity may be determined based on the second parameter estimated in the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Lars Lading, David Boettcher Baek
  • Patent number: 10856849
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device includes a propagation information estimator that evaluates reliability of wavefront arrival time data in the wavefront arrival time frame data and, for reliability nonconformance wavefront arrival time data in the wavefront arrival time frame data that does not satisfy a predefined condition, generates compensated wavefront arrival time data by interpolation based on wavefront arrival time data that does satisfy the predefined condition, replaces the reliability nonconformance wavefront arrival time data with the compensated wavefront arrival time data, and generates compensated wavefront arrival time frame data; and an elastic modulus calculator that calculates shear wave propagation speed and/or elastic modulus frame data in the region of interest, based on the compensated wavefront arrival time frame data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Bumpei Toji
  • Patent number: 10842377
    Abstract: A method comprising generating a mechanical signal in a mammal, the mechanical signal having a frequency no more than 50,000 Hz, transmitting the mechanical signal through the musculoskeletal system in the mammal, and sensing the mechanical signal from the musculoskeletal system. A method of triggering an internal event comprising generating a mechanical signal internal or external to a mammal, transmitting the signal through the musculoskeletal system of the mammal, detecting the mechanical signal, and triggering an event in response to the mechanical signal. A method of drug delivery comprising generating a mechanical signal internal or external to a mammal, transmitting the signal through the musculoskeletal system of the mammal, detecting the mechanical signal, and delivering the drug in response to the mechanical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Liebschner, Lin Zhong, Mimi W. Zhang, Michael S. Cordray
  • Patent number: 10828111
    Abstract: A method of planning a procedure to fasten an implant to a bone includes displaying a model of the bone and a model of the implant on a display device. The model implant is positioned on the model bone in a desired implant position. A first boundary volume of a first fastener configured to fasten the prosthesis to the bone is also displayed on the display device. The first boundary volume represents a range of possible positions that the first fastener may have with respect to the prosthesis when fastened to the bone. The boundary volume may be used to determine a desired size, shape, and/or positioning of the fastener with respect to the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mako Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Philip Harris Frank, Ali Zafar Abbasi
  • Patent number: 10690634
    Abstract: A technique and device (12) may be utilized to determine a characteristic of a crystallographic texture of a sample (10) based on a detected ultrasonic waveform. The device may be configured to receive ultrasonic waveform data representative of a reflected ultrasonic waveform that propagated through a sample from an ultrasonic detector (14). The device may select a portion of the ultrasonic waveform data and apply a Fast Fourier Transform to the portion of the ultrasonic waveform data to transform the portion from a time domain to a frequency domain. The device then may identify a dominant frequency (98) of the portion in the frequency domain and determine a characteristic of a crystallographic texture for the portion based on the dominant frequency of the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. Glavicic, Jeffrey A. Gilbert, Jason A. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 10481233
    Abstract: Edema invariant tractography methods are provided. The methods include acquiring data using a multishell, high angular resolution diffusion imaging sequence; (ii) modeling the data using a multi-compartment model; and (iii) reconstructing the fibers through a probabilistic tracking algorithm using a fiber orientation distribution which has streamlines fitted to the output of said probabilistic tracking algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Ragini Verma, Luke Macyszyn, Emmanuel Caruyer, Jeremy Lecoeur, Mark Elliot, Steven Brem
  • Patent number: 10398345
    Abstract: System for registering a first image with a second image, the system including a first medical positioning system for detecting a first position and orientation of the body of a patient, a second medical positioning system for detecting a second position and orientation of the body, and a registering module coupled with a second imager and with the second medical positioning system, the first medical positioning system being associated with and coupled with a first imager, the first imager acquiring the first image from the body, the first imager producing the first image by associating the first image with the first position and orientation, the second medical positioning system being associated with and coupled with the second imager, the second imager acquiring the second image and associating the second image with the second position and orientation, the registering module registering the first image with the second image, according to the first position and orientation and the second position and orienta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical Internation Holding S.Ă .r.l.
    Inventors: Gera Strommer, Uzi Eichler
  • Patent number: 10368835
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a determining unit adapted to determine a depth position of a boundary of the intima-media complex at the clear boundary sound ray, and ascertain a depth position of the boundary of the intima-media complex at the unclear boundary sound ray; and an calculator adapted to calculate an intima-media complex thickness based on the depth positions of the boundary of the intima-media complex, wherein the determining unit performs pattern matching on a sound ray signal corresponding to the unclear boundary sound ray by using a sound ray signal corresponding to a clear boundary sound ray lying adjacent to the unclear boundary sound ray as a reference signal, thereby ascertaining the depth position of the boundary of the intima-media complex at the unclear boundary sound ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukiya Miyachi
  • Patent number: 10152574
    Abstract: A signal feature extracting method and apparatus is disclosed. The signal feature extracting apparatus estimates element signals forming an input signal using a signal model to be determined by parameters, and extracts signal features using the estimated element signals. The method of extracting a signal feature including estimating element signals from an input signal, and extracting a signal feature using the estimated element signals, wherein the estimating of the element signals comprises estimating a first element signal of the input signal, and estimating a second element signal based on a waveform of a first intermediate signal, the first intermediate signal being a signal derived from the first element signal eliminated from the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Soon Park, Ui Kun Kwon, Sang-joon Kim, Seungkeun Yoon, Changmok Choi
  • Patent number: 10143402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a length measuring device with a vernier caliper, a hollow profile, on which the vernier caliper is displaceably mounted externally so that it is capable of being brought into contact with an object to be measured in terms of its length, an inner slide, which is displaceably mounted inside the hollow profile, a magnet arrangement, which couples the vernier caliper and inner slide magnetically, so that the inner slide follows every movement of the vernier caliper along the hollow profile, a measuring means for measuring the position of the inner slide along the hollow profile, and a display, visible in the surrounding space of the hollow profile, of the length determined by the measuring means in accordance with the measured position of the inner slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SECA AG
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Grossmann, Björn Jensen, Peter Lawitzke
  • Patent number: 10010722
    Abstract: Medical ultrasound systems. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LIPOSONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Wing, Craig R. Bockenstedt, Jeffrey R. Crunkilton, Frederick J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10009029
    Abstract: An interface control circuit to apply a compatible voltage for a USB device upon connection includes a USB connector, a controlling module, and a switching module. The USB connector outputs the plug signal when connected to the USB device. The controlling module outputs a power supply signal when the plug signal is received. The switching module outputs a power supply drive signal when the power supply signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chun-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9643030
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a high-intensity focused ultrasound thermal ablation apparatus having integrated temperature estimation and elastography for thermal lesion determination and the method thereof, using the different power to burn by the same focused ultrasound transducer, and then using the apparatus to measure the temperature and elasticity estimating by the relevant analysis method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hao-Li Liu, Ming-Shi Lin
  • Patent number: 9514358
    Abstract: Systems and methods for matching a characteristic of multiple sectors of a moving tissue to verify an overlap thereof are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, tissue data for at least a first sector and a second sector of a moving tissue is acquired. A characteristic of at least a portion of the first and second sectors is estimated from the acquired tissue data, and the estimated characteristics are matched to verify whether a portion of the first sector overlaps with a portion of the second sector. Estimating can include estimating a displacement such as an axial displacement and/or lateral displacements. Estimating can further include estimating a strain, a velocity, a strain rate and/or a stiffness or equivalent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Elisa Konofagou, Jean Provost
  • Patent number: 9301732
    Abstract: Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including: a tomogram constructing means; an elasticity information calculating means; an elasticity image constructing means; a display means; an estimation data generating means configured to generate estimation data for estimating the characteristic of a biomedical tissue on the basis of the elasticity image; an estimation data selecting means configured to select at least one parameter used for the estimation of the characteristic of the biomedical tissue and to make the selected parameter displayed on the display means, an analyzing means configured to analyze the elasticity image using at least one parameter selected by the estimation data selecting means and to make the result of analysis displayed on the display means; wherein the display means displays the parameter used for the estimation of the characteristic and the result of analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Akiko Tonomura, Tsuyoshi Mitake
  • Patent number: 9247921
    Abstract: Systems and techniques of treatment monitoring include acquiring channel data from each of a plurality of channels of a signal array over a plurality of frames, determining a reconstruction matrix based on a reconstruction operation to be performed on the channel data, applying the reconstruction matrix to the channel data to obtain reconstructed channel data, estimating displacement data representing displacement of an object over the frames from the reconstructed channel data; determining a conversion matrix based on a conversion operation to be performed on the reconstructed channel data, and applying the conversion matrix to the reconstructed channel data to obtain a displacement map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Jean Provost, Elisa E. Konofagou, Gary Yi Hou, Jiangang Chen
  • Patent number: 9173573
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object of interest includes an ultrasound device configured to emit ultrasonic waves of at least two different frequencies onto the object of interest, and an electromagnetic radiation detector configured to detect electromagnetic fluorescence radiation emitted by the object of interest in response to an absorption of primary electromagnetic radiation and in response to the ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Weiβ, Tobias Schaffter
  • Patent number: 9078592
    Abstract: An elasticity measuring system determines tissue displacement between a pre-deformation and post-deformation image by a matching process using a cost function accepting as its arguments continuity of the tissue motion and correlation of the tissue in making the block matching. The invention allows the selection among different cost functions for different imaging situations or tissue types, to provide improved displacement calculations using a priori knowledge about the tissue and structure of tissue interfaces or information derived during the scanning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jingfeng Jiang, Timothy J. Hall
  • Patent number: 9072493
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method having a highly-reliable elastic evaluation unit for tissues. The invention includes a signal processing unit that processes received data obtained after ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received to/from an inspection target through a probe. An ROI detection unit of the processing unit obtains a distance index indicating a region proper for an elastic evaluation based on brightness distribution of the received data obtained by transmitting and receiving first ultrasonic waves to/from the probe, and sets an ROI based on the distance index. Then, second ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the ROI to generate shear waves. An elastic evaluation unit calculates a shear wave velocity based on received data obtained by transmitting and receiving third ultrasonic waves in the ROI, and outputs the shear wave velocity and an elastic evaluation value of the ROI as a reliability index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9072539
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Eitan T. Wiener, Brian T. Noyes, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Daniel J. Abbott, Matthew C. Miller, Daniel W. Price
  • Patent number: 9060713
    Abstract: Some embodiments of a tissue sensor may include a micro-fabricated structure that can be coupled to a medical instrument, such as a probe, an endoscopic tool, or another minimally invasive instrument. The tissue sensor can be configured to provide information indicate of tissue properties, such as tissue elasticity characteristics or the type of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Rajesh Rajamani, Peng Peng, Ahmet Serdar Sezen, Arthur G. Erdman
  • Publication number: 20150148657
    Abstract: A computerized method of adapting a presentation of ultrasonographic images during an ultrasonographic fetal evaluation. The method comprises performing an analysis of a plurality of ultrasonographic images captured by an ultrasonographic probe during an evaluation of a fetus, automatically identifying at least one location of at least one anatomical landmark of at least one reference organ or tissue or body fluid of the fetus in the plurality of ultrasonographic images based on an outcome of the analysis, automatically localizing a region of interest (ROI) in at least some of the plurality of ultrasonographic images by using at least one predefined locational anatomical property of the at least one anatomical landmark, and concealing the ROI in a presentation of the at least some ultrasonographic images during the evaluation. At least one anatomical landmark is imaged in the presentation and not concealed by the ROI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: David Shashar, Reuven Achiron, Arnaldo Mayer
  • Patent number: 8989837
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject application include a diagnostic apparatus including one or more antennas disposed on a thorax of a living body to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves through tissue and output signals responsively to the waves that have passed through the tissue. The apparatus may also include processing circuitry configured to process the signals over time so as to measure one or more RF path characteristics of the RF electromagnetic waves. The RF path length may be defined by a length of time required for the RF waves to pass through the thorax to an antenna and/or pass to tissue and reflect therefrom to an antenna, based on the path characteristic to assess a fluid content of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyma Medical Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Uriel Weinstein, Assaf Bernstein, Eyal Cohen
  • Publication number: 20150073278
    Abstract: There is used an object information acquiring apparatus including an irradiating unit that irradiates an object with light, an irradiation position controlling unit that controls an irradiation position for irradiating the object with the light, a probe that receives an acoustic wave generated when the object is irradiated with the light from the irradiating unit, at a position opposing the irradiating unit across the object, and outputs an acoustic wave signal, a probe controlling unit that controls the probe, a control processor that controls at least one of the irradiation position controlling unit and the probe controlling unit such that the light does not enter the probe directly without going through the object, and a constructing unit that constructs characteristic information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Kenji Oyama
  • Publication number: 20150051467
    Abstract: An implantable medical device system and associated method receive a signal from an implantable sensor operatively positioned relative to a vein, the signal being responsive to changes in a diameter of the vein. A diameter of the vein is determined in response to the sensor signal and used in estimating central venous pressure (CVP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Giorgio Corbucci, Josephus P.A. Smit, Johannes S. Van Der Veen, Geert Van Lembergen, Marinus C.J. Verschelling
  • Publication number: 20150038844
    Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system includes a mobile computing device; a detachable front end component configured for attachment to and communication with the mobile computing device, and configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals; and programming, when installed on the mobile computing device, being executable by the mobile computing device to cause the mobile computing device to send signals to the front end component causing the front end component to transmit the ultrasound signals, and to receive signals from the front end component resulting from the front end component receiving the receive ultrasound signals, and process the receive signal and display an ultrasound image resulting from the processing. The front end component is configured to be directly joined with the mobile computing device and directly connected, without the use of an external wire or cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Travis Blalock, Michael Fuller, Drake Guenther, Karen Morgan, Jeff Pompeo
  • Patent number: 8926512
    Abstract: A resolution optimization unit determines an optimal sound velocity corresponding to a tissue component at each position in a scan slice, and calculates a reception delay time or the like for each reception beam from each position in the scan slice. A control processor executes delay addition processing in a scan for acquiring an ultrasonic image actually used for diagnosis by using the reception delay time calculated using an optimal sound velocity. This can correct the difference between the set sound velocity used for the calculation of a reception delay time and the actual in vivo sound velocity and acquire an ultrasonic image with optimized resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Kakee
  • Publication number: 20150005637
    Abstract: Tissue displacements are estimated with speckle tracking in B-scan images. A template region in a first image is compared with a plurality of image portions in subsequent image, and a tissue displacement is based on the comparison. In some examples, the comparison is based on a Fisher-Tippet distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kelly Stegman, Nikolai Dechev, Slobodan Djurickovic
  • Publication number: 20140364740
    Abstract: A first interface of a media-adventitia interface and a second interface of a lumen-intima interface are specified on the basis of reflected waveform data in an n-th frame, a first interface of a media-adventitia interface and second interfaces of a lumen-intima interface are specified on the basis of reflected waveform data in an m-th frame, a first interface displacement amount and second interface displacement amounts between the n-th and m-th frames are determined, a reference displacement amount is calculated from the same reflected waveform data by phase difference tracking as the displacement amount of a vascular wall, and evaluation values for evaluating interface specification credibility are calculated from the first interface displacement amount, the second interface displacement amounts, and the reference displacement amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonori MANO
  • Publication number: 20140364739
    Abstract: System for analyzing a vascular structure. The system includes an initialization module that is configured to analyze a slice of a VOI that includes a main vessel of the vascular structure to position first and second luminal models in the lumen. Each of the first and second luminal models represents at least a portion of a cross-sectional shape of the lumen and has a location and a dimension in the slice. The system also includes a tracking module that is configured to determine the locations and the dimensions of the first and second luminal models in subsequent slices. For a designated slice, the locations and the dimensions of the first and second luminal models of the designated slice are based on the locations and the dimensions of the first and second luminal models, respectively, in a prior slice and also the image data of the designated slice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shubao Liu, Paulo Ricardo Mendonca, Dirk Ryan Padfield
  • Patent number: 8882675
    Abstract: Some embodiments include acquisition of color Doppler data, detection of one or more transitions of the color Doppler data, each of the one or more transitions being between a first area representing flow velocity in a first direction and a second area representing flow velocity not in the first direction, and application of a first set of aliasing corrections to the color Doppler data to generate second color Doppler data. For each of the one or more transitions, a first energy function is calculated based on the one or more pairs of color Doppler values in the second color Doppler data, and a first total energy function associated with the first set of aliasing corrections is determined based on the calculated first energy functions. Next, a second total energy function associated with a second set of aliasing corrections is determined based on calculated second energy functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Tamura