Doppler Effect (e.g., Fetal Hr Monitoring) Patents (Class 600/453)
  • Patent number: 11969287
    Abstract: Provided are an artificial intelligence ultrasound-medical-diagnosis apparatus and a remote medical-diagnosis method using the same. The apparatus can automatically diagnose diseases based on ultrasound medical examinations and ultrasound image processing. The ultrasound-medical-diagnosis apparatus includes a semantic segmentation artificial intelligence network configured to perform labeling on visualized organs of a patient using mutually different colors to detect a position of an organ of interest displayed on the ultrasound image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventor: Jae-Chern Yoo
  • Patent number: 11963825
    Abstract: An apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to obtain first Doppler waveform data related to a left ventricular blood inflow. The processing circuit is configured to detect positions of an E-wave and an A-wave in the first Doppler waveform data, by using the first Doppler waveform data and a trained model trained with training data that includes at least positions of an E-wave and an A-wave in each of a plurality of pieces of second Doppler waveform data related to left ventricular blood inflows and the plurality of pieces of second Doppler waveform data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kousuke Namiki
  • Patent number: 11965960
    Abstract: The ultrasound imaging apparatus provided to quantify the degree of flash artifacts based on an ultrasound echo signal, and to notify a user of an image section with a severe flash artifact includes: a probe configured to irradiate an ultrasound signal to an object and receive an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the object; an image processor configured to obtain a color Doppler signal from which a clutter signal has been completely or partially removed by filtering the ultrasound echo signal, obtain a plurality of consecutive Doppler image frames based on the color Doppler signal and generate a Doppler image based on the plurality of consecutive Doppler image frames; a display configured to output the Doppler image; and a controller configured to calculate a flash artifact score of each of the plurality of consecutive Doppler image frames based on the ultrasound echo signal, generate timeline corresponding to the plurality of consecutive Doppler image frames and control the display so that the flash art
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Woohyuk Choi, Yujin Lee, Jae-Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 11883229
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring, via an ultrasound probe, Doppler measurements over a plurality of cardiac cycles, evaluating a flow profile comprising the Doppler measurements to detect an abnormality in the flow profile, and displaying, via a display device, the flow profile with a reference flow profile overlaid thereon. In this way, the attention of a physician evaluating results from an ultrasound imaging examination may be directed to abnormal flow that is potentially indicative of pathologies, thereby enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis of pathologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Brandl, Heinz Schmied, Christian Wallinger, Christian Fritz Perrey, Yelena Viktorovna Tsymbalenko
  • Patent number: 11877886
    Abstract: A sublingual microcirculation detection device and a sublingual microcirculation detection system are provided. The sublingual microcirculation detection device includes a base, a first side wall structure, a second side wall structure, an ultrasonic probe, a saliva brush, a plurality of near-infrared lamps, a camera, a main controller on a side surface of the base, and a probe handle fixed to a top surface of the base. The first and second side wall structures are fixed to a bottom surface of the base. The ultrasonic probe is arranged on the first side wall structure, and the saliva brush is arranged on the second side wall structure. The plurality of near-infrared lamps and the camera are arranged on the bottom surface of the base; and the main controller is electrically connected to the plurality of near-infrared lamps, the camera, and the ultrasonic probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Siyi Jiang, Yinfei Zheng, Chao Li
  • Patent number: 11872076
    Abstract: A tool navigation system employing an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound scanner, an interventional tool, a tool tracker and an image navigator. In operation, the ultrasound probe generates an acoustic image plane for scanning an anatomical region, and the ultrasound scanner generates an ultrasound image of the anatomical region from a scan of the anatomical region. During the scan, the interventional tool is navigated within the anatomical region relative to the acoustic image plane, and the tool tracker a tracks of a position of the interventional tool relative to the acoustic image plane. The image navigator displays a graphical icon within the ultrasound image for illustrating a tracking of the interventional tool relative to the acoustic image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Francois Guy Gerard Marie Vignon, Ameet Kumar Jain
  • Patent number: 11838780
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatic signal detection in an RF environment. An apparatus comprises at least one receiver and at least one processor coupled with at least one memory. The apparatus is at the edge of a communication network. The apparatus sweeps and learns the RF environment in a predetermined period based on statistical learning techniques, thereby creating learning data. The apparatus forms a knowledge map based on the learning data, scrubs a real-time spectral sweep against the knowledge map, and creates impressions on the RF environment based on a machine learning algorithm. The apparatus is operable to detect at least one signal in the RF environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DIGITAL GLOBAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David William Kleinbeck, Ronald C. Dzierwa, Daniel Carbajal
  • Patent number: 11813110
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for detecting and sizing mineralized tissue. An exemplary method, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, can provide for imaging a region of interest containing the mineralized tissue with unfocused ultrasound beams via a primary imaging method. The method can then provide for computing a wavefront coherence at the imaged region of interest. The method can then provide for segmenting pixels of the imaged region of interest based on their intensities and intensities of surrounding pixels. The method can then provide for identifying a border and a shadow of the mineralized tissue based on the segmenting. Then, the method can provide for calculating a size of the mineralized tissue based on the border and the shadow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Brett C. Byram, Ryan S. Hsi, Jaime E. Tierney
  • Patent number: 11779300
    Abstract: A method of detecting flow instability includes insonating an area of interest with ultrasound wave pulses, acquiring radio frequency (RF) data from echo pulses of the ultrasound wave pulses, processing the RF data, and deriving a Doppler band-width from the processed RF data by AR modeling. Also described herein is a device for detecting flow instability. The device includes an emitter configured to insonate ultrasound wave pulses on an area of interest, a receiver configured to acquiring radio frequency (RF) data from echo pulses of the ultrasound wave pulses, and a processor configured to process the RF data, and derive a Doppler band-width from the processed RF data by AR modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: BIOPROBER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yat Shun Yiu, Adrian Jian Yuan Chee, Alfred Cheuk Hang Yu, Guo Tang, Wenbo Luo
  • Patent number: 11771398
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved fetal heart rate transducer that overcomes shortcomings of prior transducers in several ways including utilizing an ultra slow-cure epoxy in combination with a piezo-electric disc bonding method to improve ultrasound transmission and reception characteristics, utilizing a slow-cure epoxy in combination with a frontend PCB bonding method to improve transducer reliability, utilizing a metal insert design in combination with molding-in techniques versus press fitting to improve the mechanical stability of the transducer, and utilizing a failsafe LVDS circuit to improve cable error detection and thus improve fetal monitor system reliability. In addition, a method of use of the present invention includes quantitively determining the integrity of each of the piezo-electric disc bonds with the plastic substrate as well as the integrity of the ultrasound field using various height water phantoms that simulate the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Aronix LLC
    Inventors: Arun Narayan Patil, Anand Raghunath Bhave, Sunanda Narayan Patil, Pratibha Narayan Patil
  • Patent number: 11766233
    Abstract: A method of non-invasively monitoring the respiration of a patient comprises: transmitting ultrasound into the body toward an internal structure of the patient's body, the internal structure being one of the liver, the spleen or a kidney; selecting a depth range; measuring the phase of ultrasound echo signals from the internal structure at multiple points along the depth range for at least a first and a second echo signal, the first and second echo signals being received at different times; detecting the motion of the internal structure within the patient's abdomen by reference to differences in the measured phase between the first and the second echo signals; and thereby monitoring the respiration of the patient by associating movement of the internal structure with movement caused by respiration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Respinor AS
    Inventors: Nicolas Souzy, Morten Eriksen, Nicolay Berard-Andersen
  • Patent number: 11695462
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications that support coordinated beamforming in millimeter wave (mmW) systems. A user equipment (UE) may indicate a number of supported antennas for signal reception. A plurality of transmission-reception points (TRxPs) may coordinate a beam training with the supported antennas, in determining a beam estimation for coordinated reception at the UE. The coordinated beam training may be carried over combined beams of the associated TRxPs, and may be based on co-phasing factors within a single antenna panel for each of the TRxPs. Based on the coordinated beam training, the UE may determine a matched filtering beam estimate for reception and receive coordinated beamformed transmissions from the plurality of TRxPs as part of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Vasanthan Raghavan, Jung Ho Ryu, Junyi Li
  • Patent number: 11672506
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an obtaining unit, an image generating unit, and a controlling unit. The obtaining unit obtains setting information in which a plurality of types of ultrasound image data are set as display-purpose image data and in which a percentage of a time period to display the display-purpose image data is set for each of the plurality of types. The image generating unit generates, along a time series, each of the plurality of types of ultrasound image data set in the setting information. The controlling unit exercises control so that the plurality of types of ultrasound image data generated by the image generating unit are stored into a storage unit and exercises control so that the display-purpose image data is displayed on a display unit according to the percentage set in the setting information for each of the types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cong Yao, Shintaro Niwa, Tetsuya Kawagishi, Yoshitaka Mine
  • Patent number: 11663710
    Abstract: The image processing device includes an imaging unit that images a subject and a distance map acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a distance distribution of the subject as map data. The distance map acquisition unit acquires map data with an image deviation amount or a defocused amount related to a captured image or distance map data in conformity with a TOF scheme or an imaging plane phase difference detection scheme of using a pupil division type image sensor. An image processing unit generates data of a texture image in which a low-frequency component of a captured image is inhibited and combines the data of the texture image and the map data acquired by the distance map acquisition unit to generate image data in which a distance distribution of a subject is expressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11559281
    Abstract: An imaging system includes transmit circuitry, a transducer array with an array of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer elements, a beamformer, a decoder and a display. The transmit circuitry includes a signal generator and at least one excitation coding scheme. The transmit circuitry combines an excitation signal generated by the signal generator with an excitation coding scheme of the at least one excitation coding scheme, generating a coded excitation signal. The array of transducer elements is excited with the coded excitation signal to emit ultrasound signals. The coding scheme does not introduce heating on the capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer elements. The array of ultrasonic transducer elements receives echo signals produced in response to the ultrasound signals interacting with structure and generates electrical signals indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: B-K MEDICAL, APS
    Inventors: Fredrik Gran, Ramin Moshavegh
  • Patent number: 11534085
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing device capable of distinguishing and measuring a plurality of measurement targets even with simple configuration. The signal processing device including a reception processing unit that receives a response to a predetermined signal transmitted from a transmission antenna, and a determination unit that determines the plurality of measurement targets by a response to a plurality of signals corresponding to a second direction having a predetermined range different from a first direction having a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori Uchida, Kenichi Kawasaki, Hiroyuki Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 11534143
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a display unit that displays an acoustic wave image; an operation unit for a user to perform an input operation; a measurement item designation receiving unit that receives designation of a measurement item relevant to a measurement target; a detection measurement algorithm setting unit that sets a detection measurement algorithm based on the measurement item; a position designation receiving unit that receives designation of a position of a measurement target on the acoustic wave image; a measurement unit that detects the measurement target from the acoustic wave image based on the position of the measurement target and the detection measurement algorithm, measures the measurement target, calculates a measurement candidate, and displays the measurement candidate on the display unit; and a measurement candidate designation receiving unit that receives designation of the measurement candidate in a case where a plurality of measurement candidates are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsurou Ebata
  • Patent number: 11534132
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides using ultrasound technology and artificial intelligence to enhance MSR assessment by making the assessment more objective, reproducible, and recordable to allow a more precise and/or personalized approach to the medical practice of individual patients via using multiple ultrasound functions and artificial intelligence to improve the accuracy and consistency of assessing reflexes and allowing MSR data to be combined with other patient medical information for improved diagnosis and management of a patient's condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Richard Hoppmann, Jongyeol Kim
  • Patent number: 11510607
    Abstract: A system for monitoring fetal wellbeing over time during pregnancy includes a sensor coupled to a pregnant woman; a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor; and a computer-readable medium having non-transitory, processor-executable instructions stored thereon. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to perform a method including: acquiring a signal from a sensor; processing the signal to identify and extract a parameter of interest from the signal; and analyzing the parameter of interest to determine a degree of fetal wellbeing. The parameter of interest may include one or more of: an average fetal heart rate, an average fetal heart rate variability, a fetal kick or movement count, an average placental oxygenation level, an average placental temperature, an average placental pH, an average amount of amniotic fluid, a fetal heart rate profile, a fetal heart rate variability profile, and a fetal movement profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BLOOM TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Julien Penders, Eric Dy, Marco Altini
  • Patent number: 11464479
    Abstract: A method for quantifying an amount of fat contained in a liver or other tissue of a subject in vivo includes varying the temperature of a target area in a subject, imaging thermal strain of the target area using an ultrasound scanner, and quantifying the amount of fat in the targeted area based on the thermal strain imaging. In some embodiments, the thermal strain imaging is performed using high-resolution, phase-sensitive speckle tracking to differentiate between fat-based tissue and water-based tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Kang Kim, Ahmed M. Mahmoud, Debaditya Dutta
  • Patent number: 11457890
    Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for imaging blood flow in a subject's vasculature, which may include small blood vessels, using ultrasound without the need for a contrast agent. A locally implemented low-rank matrix decomposition is used together with adaptive cutoff values to provide noninvasive ultrasound blood flow imaging capable of imaging the subject's vasculature with very high spatial and temporal resolution, and without the administration of contrast agents such as microbubble contrast agents. Thus, in some instances the systems and methods can be used to image blood flow in small vessels and tissue microvasculature with high spatial and temporal resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: Pengfei Song, Armando Manduca, Shigao Chen, Joshua Trzasko
  • Patent number: 11432796
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fetal health. The method of the present disclosure comprises transmitting (100) an ultrasound signal from an at least one transducer element in an array towards a maternal abdomen. An at least one ultrasonic echo signal corresponding to an at least one depth of the maternal abdomen is then received (102) by the at least one transducer element. The at least one Doppler signal is determined after the echo is received by the at least one transducer element is then processed (104) in an at least one channel. A multidimensional map is then generated (106) from the processed Doppler signal. A feedback (114) to reposition the at least one transducer element is then provided when the fetal heart is determined to lie outside an ultrasound beam volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Hamelmann, Lars Schmitt, Alexander Franciscus Kolen, Markus Wohlschlager
  • Patent number: 11419573
    Abstract: Provided is a method of outputting a velocity of an object, the method including: transmitting an ultrasound signal to an object and receiving an ultrasound echo signal returned from the object; determining a velocity of the object based on the ultrasound echo signal; displaying a spectral Doppler image showing velocities of the object over time; receiving user inputs of selecting an interval within a range of the velocities of the object shown in the spectral Doppler image and adjusting an output volume of an audible sound corresponding to velocities in the selected interval; and outputting, based on the adjusted output volume of the audible sound, an audible sound representing the velocities of the object over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-heun Lee, Kang-sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11399808
    Abstract: A method of detecting subject respiratory motion and non-respiratory motion includes: transmitting a transmitted signal toward a subject, the transmitted signal being an ultrasound wave, the transmitted signal reflecting off the subject to produce a reflected signal; receiving the reflected signal and converting a form of the reflected signal from ultrasound wave to electrical; comparing the reflected signal to at least a first reference signal to determine at least a first reference phase signal indicative of a first phase difference between the first reference signal and the reflected signal, the at least a first reference signal being associated with the transmitted signal; and analyzing the first reference phase signal for respiratory motion of the subject and non-respiratory motion, the non-respiratory motion including at least one of non-respiratory motion of the subject or motion of an entity other than the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: BIODATA INNOVATION SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Raymond Joseph Ward, III, Gregory Paul Heldt
  • Patent number: 11382598
    Abstract: The invention relates to determining a fetal heart rate from an ultrasonic Doppler echo signal, which comprises at least two channels, including a first channel obtained for a first depth range and a second channel obtained for a second depth range. A first heart rate is determined from the first channel (51, 53, 55) and a second heart rate is determined from the second channel (52, 54, 56). External information on the fetal heart rate and/or the maternal heart rate, extracted from an independent source (60, 61, 62) such as an ECG, is used to select one of the first heart rate and the second heart rate as the fetal heart rate to be determined. A preferred embodiment provides for elimination of double counting heart rates by cutting out unwanted signal contributions. The disclosure further provides for an adaptive signal processing and data acquisition controlled by patient related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Markus Wohlschlager, Hansjoerg Geywitz
  • Patent number: 11373307
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an array transducer in which a plurality of elements are arranged; a transmitting unit that transmits an ultrasound beam to a subject; a receiving unit that receives ultrasound echoes from the subject to acquire element data; an element data analysis unit that analyzes the element data to acquire element data information; a collation pattern database in which a plurality of collation patterns that are associated with a plurality of examination parts of the subject and are related to the element data information are stored in advance; and a part recognition unit that collates the element data information using the collation pattern to perform part recognition determining from which examination part of the subject the ultrasound echoes have been reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11327164
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for detecting a position of the sensor relative to a guide surface, comprising a housing and an electronic analysis device which outputs measurement values for the position of the guide surface on the basis of the measurement signals. The sensor contains an ultrasonic transducer array, each of the two outer ends of which is additionally equipped with a respective reference ultrasonic transducer and a respective reflector surface flush with the reference piezo disc at a distance from the base side, said ultrasonic transducers and reflector surfaces being inclined by 45° relative to the base side and pointing towards one another, thus forming a reference measurement path with a known length between the two reference ultrasonic transducers. In the method for detecting the relative position, the measurement values are corrected with respect to environmental influences by measurements in a reference path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Microsonic GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Schulte
  • Patent number: 11224402
    Abstract: A fetal movement detection method (100) includes: identifying pulse packets in a Doppler ultrasound signal, each pulse packet comprising a pulse train of one or more pulses; classifying each of the identified pulse packets as a hiccup or non-hiccup based on at least one characteristic of the identified pulse packets; suppressing the pulse packets of the Doppler ultrasound signal that are classified as a hiccup; and calculating a fetal heart rate from the Doppler ultrasound signal with the pulse packets classified as hiccups suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 11209521
    Abstract: Methods and systems for developing a prototype pulse in real-time. A method includes detecting, by a signal processor, a plurality of repetitive pulse signals carried in energy waves received at an antenna. The method further includes estimating time intervals corresponding to occurrences of the plurality of repetitive pulse signals and extracting a plurality of pulse signal segments detected by the signal processor during each of the time intervals over a time period. The signal processor selects a first pulse signal segment received during one of the time intervals and calculates respective time delays relative to the first pulse signal segment for each remaining pulse signal segment of the plurality of pulse signal segments. The signal processor then time-aligns the extracted pulse signal segments with the first pulse signal segment and averages the pulse signal segments to establish a prototype pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: James B. Baker
  • Patent number: 11197656
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulsed Doppler ultra-high spectral resolution imaging processing method and processing system. The method includes: acquiring IQ signals corresponding to N sampling points respectively on each scan line; in a fast time direction, performing wall filtering processing to form an IQ signal wall filtering sequence; performing FFT on each sampling point in the IQ signal wall filtering sequence in a slow and a fast time direction, respectively, to obtain an energy distribution matrix at different frequency shifts; acquiring a velocity distribution matrix; and retrieving a velocity sequence for display, querying the velocity distribution matrix and the energy distribution matrix according to the velocity sequence, and acquiring an energy sequence corresponding to the velocity sequence for displaying a final spectrum. When a transmit signal bandwidth is wider or a scatterer velocity is faster, the velocity resolution is greatly guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: VINNO TECHNOLOGY (SUZHOU) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jianjun Guo, Huiren Chen
  • Patent number: 11154278
    Abstract: An ultrasound signal processing device that generates, for each detection wave, a first complex Doppler signal sequence through quadrature detection of a reception signal sequence; generates tissue velocity data by calculating velocity values for each set of coordinates of observation points in a region of interest from the first complex Doppler signal sequence; generates a second complex Doppler signal sequence by performing clutter removal filter processing on the first complex Doppler signal sequence; generates first velocity data by calculating velocity values for each set of coordinates of the observation points from the second complex Doppler signal sequence; and generates, for each set of coordinates of the observation points, second velocity data based on the first velocity data and the tissue velocity data, and third velocity data by applying a correction to velocity values of the second velocity data that have an absolute value equal to or less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Susumu
  • Patent number: 11103216
    Abstract: A shear wave elastography method for imaging an observation field in an anisotropic medium, including an initial ultrasonic acquisition step during which initial physical parameters are acquired in at least one region of interest; a spatial characterization step during which a set of spatial characteristics of the anisotropic medium is determined on the basis of the initial physical parameter; an excitation substep during which an shear wave is generated inside the anisotropic medium on the basis of the set of spatial characteristics; and an observation substep during which the propagation of the shear wave is observed simultaneously at a multitude of points in the observation field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SUPERSONIC IMAGINE
    Inventors: Jeremy Bercoff, Jean-Pierre Henry
  • Patent number: 11006925
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a probe adapter includes: a holder configured to be detachably attached to an ultrasonic probe; a marker configured to be disposed at a predetermined position in an array direction of the ultrasonic probe and mark a surface of an object which the ultrasonic probe is brought into contact with, under a state where the holder is attached to the ultrasonic probe; and a wiper configured to remove an ultrasonic medium coated on the surface of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Ogasawara, Kentaro Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 10888084
    Abstract: A bat deterrent system to deter bats from approaching wind turbines may include a first deterrent box having a first and second transducer bank. The first transducer bank may include a first set of transducers located on a first plane and a second set of transducers located on a second plane. The second plane may be different from the first plane. The bat deterrent system may also include a second deterrent box having a third and fourth transducer bank. The third transducer bank may include a third set of transducers located on a third plane and a fourth set of transducers located on a fourth plane. The fourth plane may be different from the third plane. At least one transducer may simultaneously emit a different ultrasonic output waveform than the ultrasonic output waveform emitted from another transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NRG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Cris Hein, Peter P. Garcia, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10884032
    Abstract: A non-invasive method of detecting electrical activity in a target volume. The method can comprise aiming a plurality of antennas at one or more target sub-volumes within a target volume and acquiring the radio signal created when an electrical discharge occurs. The method can then comprise processing the radio signals to determine the electrical activity within the target volume and displaying the electrical activity in the target volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Holloway H. Frost
  • Patent number: 10835200
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes Doppler processing circuitry and processing circuitry. The Doppler processing circuitry filters a data sequence of reflected-wave data at the same positions across a plurality of frames in a frame direction to collect blood flow information in a predetermined region of interest. The processing circuitry receives a first instruction to change the range of flow rate values to be displayed, in display of the blood flow information. The processing circuitry receives a second instruction to change a setting related to the region of interest. The processing circuitry changes the range of flow rate values in response to the first instruction when receiving the first instruction, and performs an adjustment for maintaining the range of flow rate values when receiving the second instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Chihiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 10835201
    Abstract: The invention is a device, system, and method for monitoring function of heart valves. The invention includes a disposable patch having simple transducers and simple processing for monitoring heart valve performance via echo Doppler and processing the data to determine blood flow velocities and/or blood flow gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventor: Yaron Keidar
  • Patent number: 10806433
    Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus includes: a data obtaining unit configured to obtain ultrasound data of an object; a controller configured to generate an ultrasound image based on the ultrasound data, obtain blood flow information of the object by using a Doppler component obtained from the ultrasound data, and set a plurality of sample volume gates based on the blood flow information; and a display configured to display the ultrasound image in which the plurality of sample volume gates are displayed. The ultrasound apparatus may reduce a processing time of the ultrasound apparatuses and simplify a user's manipulation by obtaining an ultrasound image one time and providing a plurality of Doppler spectrums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-il Lee, Hyoung-jin Kim
  • Patent number: 10722209
    Abstract: An ultrasound system for identifying a vessel of a subject comprises: an ultrasound probe configured to simultaneously acquire a sequence of ultrasound blood flow data frames (such as a sequence of ultrasound Doppler data frames) and a sequence of ultrasound B-mode data frames of a region of interest including the vessel over a predetermined time period; a blood flow region selecting unit configured to select a blood flow region in the sequence of blood flow data frames; and a vessel segmenting unit configured to segment the vessel in at least one frame of the sequence of ultrasound B-mode data frames based on the selected blood flow region. Since there is no need to manually place any seed point for vessel segmentation any more, the user dependency is reduced and a fast measurement is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jiangang Chen, Balasundar Iyyavu Raju, Evgeniy Leyvi
  • Patent number: 10702243
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including: an image processor configured to acquire ultrasound data of an object; a controller configured to generate a wearable signal carrying information corresponding to a difference between the acquired ultrasound data and reference ultrasound data; and a communication module configured to transmit the wearable signal to a wearable device. The wearable signal is acquired by comparing the ultrasound data with the reference ultrasound data and includes information about the difference between the ultrasound data and the reference ultrasound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-mo Yang, Jin-hwan Park, Jun-sang Yoo, Kwang-hee Lee, Seung-ju Lee, Yoon-gu Hwang
  • Patent number: 10646196
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to systems, methods, and apparatus for determining a heart rate of an imaged heart in an ultrasound image feed. A plurality of ultrasound images can first be acquired. For each ultrasound image of the plurality of ultrasound images, the image can be divided into a plurality of regions; where each region is positioned so that the region corresponds to a substantially similar region location present across the plurality of ultrasound images. For each region location on each of the plurality of ultrasound images, a statistical calculation on image data of the region location can be performed. For each region location, a frequency of change in the statistical calculation over the plurality of ultrasound images can then be determined. The region location having a dominant determined frequency of change in the statistical calculation (over the plurality of ultrasound images) can be identified as a region of interest (ROI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Clarius Mobile Health Corp.
    Inventors: Kris Dickie, Nishant Uniyal, Narges Afsham, Laurent Pelissier
  • Patent number: 10492766
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system and method that provide support for acquiring secondary ultrasound image snapshots with primary real-time ultrasound image data. The method can include acquiring first image data at an ultrasound system in a primary acquisition mode based on primary acquisition mode imaging parameters. The method may include receiving a trigger to switch from the primary acquisition mode to a secondary acquisition mode. The method can include acquiring second image data at the ultrasound system in a secondary acquisition mode based on secondary acquisition mode imaging parameters in response to the trigger. The method may include displaying a replay cine sequence that includes the first image data and the second image data. The replay cine sequence can include a tag identifying the second image data in the replay cine sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel John Buckton, Manfred Aichhorn, Peter Falkensammer, Thomas Huepf, Erwin Fosodeder
  • Patent number: 10485508
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device wherein: a Doppler processing unit acquires Doppler information in a living body on the basis of an ultrasonic reception signal; a velocity vector calculating unit acquires the velocity vector distribution of a blood stream in the living body on the basis of the Doppler information in the living body; and, to form a flow line showing the flow of the blood stream on the basis of the velocity vector distribution, a flow line forming unit searches for a proper start point by inversely tracing the flow of the blood stream from an initial start point along the reverse direction of the velocity vector and then forms a flow line extended from the proper start point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kagami Miyaji, Keiichi Itatani, Tomohide Nishiyama, Hajime Sakashita, Yoshinori Seki
  • Patent number: 10398407
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. Echo signals received by an ultrasound probe (10) are used to produce an image of a regurgitant flow region, and are processed by a wall filter having a response characteristic which peaks at an intermediate sampling rate between zero and the Nyquist limits. This response characteristic is thus highly sensitive to lower flow rates which may be anticipated in a flow velocity field proximal a regurgitant orifice. Echo signals passed by the wall filter are Doppler processed and used to quantify the flow through the regurgitant orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Qifeng Wei, Karl Thiele
  • Patent number: 10398580
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for performing percutaneous catheter-based interventional surgery. The apparatus comprises first and second devices that are located in adjacent body cavities, such as adjacent blood vessels, the first device being capable of transmitting a directional signal that can be received by the second device. The direction of the signal is correlated with the facility to direct therapy, such that improved accuracy in therapy placement is thereby achieved. Methods for treating patients utilizing the means and apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: LimFlow GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Julian Dickinson, Andrew Robert Pacey, Martin Terry Rothman, Ajay Kumar Jain
  • Patent number: 10383596
    Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound probe is disclosed, incorporating features for utilizing an advanced transducer technology on a rotating transducer shaft. In particular, the probe accommodates the transmission of the multitude of signals across the boundary between the rotary and stationary components of the probe required to support an advanced transducer technology. These advanced transducer technologies offer the potential for increased bandwidth, improved beam profiles, better signal to noise ratio, reduced manufacturing costs, advanced tissue characterization algorithms, and other desirable features. Furthermore, the inclusion of electronic components on the spinning side of the probe can be highly advantageous in terms of preserving maximum signal to noise ratio and signal fidelity, along with other performance benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul Douglas Corl
  • Patent number: 10342515
    Abstract: An ultrasound system performs duplex colorflow and spectral Doppler imaging, with the spectral Doppler interrogation performed at a sample volume location shown on the colorflow image. The colorflow image is displayed in a color box overlaid on a co-registered B mode image. A color box position and steering angle processor analyzes the spatial Doppler data and automatically sets the color box angle and location over a blood vessel for optimal Doppler sensitivity and accuracy. The processor may also automatically set the flow angle correction cursor in alignment with the direction of flow. In a preferred embodiment these optimization adjustments are made automatically and continuously as a user pauses at points for Doppler measurements along a length of the blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Thanasis Loupas, Ashraf Saad
  • Patent number: 10310079
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a first wireless device, first data indicative of channel properties of a first communication link between the first wireless device and a second wireless device, the first wireless device and the second wireless device being located in a same vicinity. The method further includes detecting, using a supervised machine learning (ML) model applied to the first data, human movement and presence of stationary objects within the same vicinity and activating, by the first wireless device in response to detection of the human movement, an ultrasonic signal. The method further includes receiving, by the first wireless device, a reflected component of the ultrasonic signal and confirming, by the first wireless device using the reflected component, presence of a human in the same vicinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Koohyun Um, Ce Zhang, Jungtao Liu
  • Patent number: 10231691
    Abstract: An audible ultrasound physical examination device alters ultrasound to an audible range such that audible feedback can be used to enhance physical examination to detect anatomical abnormality and determine if more refined testing is warranted. The device includes a chestpiece and an ultrasound probe coupled to the chestpiece. The ultrasound probe projects an initial sound wave towards a first face of the chestpiece and into a human body such that a reflected wave is produced when the initial sound wave is reflected by matter with the human body. A sonic converter, coupled to the chestpiece, introduces an interference wave creating destructive interference to produce a resulting wave within an audible range. An earpiece is coupled to the chestpiece such that the resulting wave in the audible range is audible through the earpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Mustafa Behnan Sahin
  • Patent number: 10085639
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a variety of sensors, such as a pulse oximeter, configured to track a dynamic component of a sensor and take an action based on a characteristic of the dynamic component. Some embodiments may include determining a gain applied to a signal of the sensor, determining whether the gain is discontinuous, and indicating that a sensor measurement associated with the signal is low quality in response to determining that the gain applied is discontinuous. Some embodiments may include determining a peak-to-peak voltage of an output of a sensor, determining whether the peak-to-peak voltage is within an acceptable peak-to-peak voltage range, and indicating that a measurement associated with the received signal is low quality in response to determining that the peak-to-peak voltage is outside the acceptable peak-to-peak voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Scott Ballam, Robert Bruce Ganton, Stephen Dickey