Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080285819 | Systems and method for composite elastography and wave imaging - Systems and methods for composite elastography and wave imaging are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an imaging modality field of view, such as, for example, that of ultrasound, can be divided into N sectors, each having 1/Nth of a full field of view. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a temporal series of 2D or 3D ultrasound images for each of the N sectors can be acquired over a duration of one or more periods of a periodic signal. Substantially simultaneously, such a periodic signal can also be acquired, wherein each of said series of 2D ultrasound images for each sector can be triggered or gated using said periodic signal. For example, for ultrasound imaging of the heart, an ECG signal can function as such a periodic signal. The data from the various N sectors can be synchronized in time using the ECG signals, and the ultrasound signals from each of the N sectors combined to generate a series of composite ultrasound images at the frame rate of the individual sectors. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a composite image can be further processed to estimate displacement between consecutive frames, remove noise, accumulate displacement with time for an entire cardiac cycle, and derive strain in the cardiac muscle, vessel or any other organ or tissue under motion. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the derived strain data can be overlaid onto all or part of the composite ultrasound images, and one or more of such overlaid images can be displayed to a user. | 11-20-2008 |
20090005711 | Systems and methods for opening of the blood-brain barrier of a subject using ultrasound - A system and method for opening the blood-brain barrier in the brain of a subject is disclosed. In some embodiments, a region of the brain of a subject is targeted for opening; and a focused ultrasound beam is applied through the skull of the subject to the targeted region to open the blood-brain barrier in the brain of the subject. | 01-01-2009 |
20090221916 | Systems and Methods for Elastography Imaging - Methods for obtaining information about the mechanical behaviour of structures associated with mammalian joints and tendons are provided. Embodiments of such methods include creating deformation in a joint structure (such as ligaments and articular cartilage) or tendon of interest, using an ultrasound scanner and a single element or array of elements to acquire sequences of ultrasound data of the joint structure or tendon, estimating one, two or three components of the resulting displacement and strain between a reference frame of ultrasound data and successive frames of ultrasound data, and using a cross-correlation algorithm to estimate the displacement and strain components. This information may be used to inform the design of tissue grafts. Tissue grafts produced using this information are also provided. The same method can be used in situ together with noninvasive or invasive procedures. | 09-03-2009 |
20110295105 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPENING A TISSUE - Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value is determined, microbubbles of the size range are positioned in proximity to the targeted region, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value. | 12-01-2011 |
20130046229 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPENING OF A TISSUE BARRIER - Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value using microbubbles are disclosed herein. In an embodiment of a method for opening a tissue to a target value using microbubbles, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, an acoustic parameter corresponding to the target value is determined, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the target region at the acoustic parameter such that the tissue at the target region is opened to the target value with the microbubbles. The acoustic parameter can be selected to control an acoustic cavitation event and, in some embodiments, controlling an acoustic cavitation event can include controlling a location, number and/or magnitude of acoustic cavitation events. | 02-21-2013 |
20130066211 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPOSITE MYOCARDIAL ELASTOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for composite myocardial elastography are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an imaging modality field of view, such as, for example, that of ultrasound, can be divided into N sectors, each having 1/Nth of a full field of view. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a temporal series of 2D ultrasound images for each of the N sectors can be acquired over a duration of one or more periods of a periodic signal. Substantially simultaneously, such a periodic signal can also be acquired, wherein each of said series of 2D ultrasound images for each sector can be triggered using said periodic signal. For example, for ultrasound imaging of the heart, an ECG signal can function as such a periodic signal. The data from the various N sectors can be synchronized in time using the ECG signals, and the ultrasound signals from each of the N sectors combined to generate a series of composite ultrasound images at the frame rate of the individual sectors. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a composite image can be further processed to estimate displacement between consecutive frames, remove noise, accumulate displacement with time for an entire cardiac cycle, and derive strain in the cardiac muscle, vessel or any other organ or tissue under motion. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the derived strain data can be overlaid onto all or part of the composite ultrasound images, and one or more of such overlaid images can be displayed to a user. | 03-14-2013 |
20130131495 | PLANNING SYSTEM FOR TARGETING TISSUE STRUCTURES WITH ULTRASOUND - The disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for targeting tissue structures and applying ultrasound thereto. A method according to the disclosed subject matter for targeting a tissue structure using corresponding tissue structure image data includes inputting the tissue structure image data into a targeting simulator, determining acoustic properties of the tissue structure from the corresponding tissue structure image data, and utilizing the determined acoustic properties to align a simulated transducer with the tissue structure such that the tissue structure is targeted. The method can further include acquiring the tissue structure image data, aligning the image data with an atlas of a body structure encompassing the tissue structure and/or selecting parameters of the simulated transducer such that a focal region of an ultrasound wave generated by the simulated transducer targets the tissue structure. | 05-23-2013 |
20130289398 | MEDICAL IMAGING CONTRAST DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and devices for generating and using size-selected lanthanide-coated microbubbles for controlling an imaging signal via microbubble fragmentation and for magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound therapy. | 10-31-2013 |
20140114216 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPENING OF A TISSUE BARRIER IN PRIMATES - Systems and methods for cavitation-guided opening of a targeted region of tissue within a primate skull are provided. In one example, a method includes delivering one or more microbubbles to proximate the targeted region, applying an ultrasound beam, using a transducer, through the skull of the primate to the targeted region to open the tissue, transcranially acquiring acoustic emissions produced from an interaction between the one or more microbubbles and the tissue, and determining a cavitation spectrum from the acquired acoustic emissions. | 04-24-2014 |
20140135625 | ULTRASOUND DEVICES METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Ultrasound methods, devices, and systems are described which support a useful compromise in terms of spatial resolution and temporal resolution for capturing motion in tissue structures. Tissue engineering articles, methods, systems, and devices which employ ultrasound to deliver biological agents to selected regions of a tissue scaffold, deliver mechanical stimulation to cells growing in a tissue scaffold, and enhance the perfusion of fluids through tissue scaffolds. | 05-15-2014 |
20140343424 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL WAVE IMAGING OF BODY STRUCTURES - A system and method for detecting electromechanical wave propagation within a body structure of a patient in a series of image frames representing movement the body structure. Image data is acquired comprising a series of image frames corresponding to the movement of a body structure. A correlation calculation is performed on the image frames to generate a displacement map representing the relative displacement between the first and second image frames. A video is generated comprising a series of displacement maps. The parameters of movement of the body structure are detected by analysis of the displacement maps. The image acquisition may detect the movement of the body structure without inducing such movement. | 11-20-2014 |
20150045724 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY - Techniques for opening a target tissue using nanodroplets are provided. An exemplary method can include targeting a region of tissue for opening, delivering a plurality of nanodroplets to the region, and applying an ultrasound beam at the region such that the nanodroplets cavitate, or convert to microbubbles that cavitate, thereby causing the target tissue to open. | 02-12-2015 |
20150065871 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME, TRANSCRANIAL MONITORING OF BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER OPENING - Systems and techniques for real-time, transcranial monitoring of safe blood-brain barrier opening include determining an approach angle for targeted blood-brain barrier opening proximate a predetermined region in a brain of a patient, and positioning an ultrasound transducer to generate a focused ultrasound signal at the determined approach angle to the predetermined region in the brain. | 03-05-2015 |