ESAOTE S.p.A Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160078623 | Method and apparatus for acquiring and fusing ultrasound images with pre-acquired images - A method of fusing ultrasound images with pre-acquired images includes acquiring a first 3D ultrasound image in real-time; identifying at least one known reference pattern or object within a pre-acquired 3D image and the 3D ultrasound image; registering the real-time 3D ultrasound image with the pre-acquired 3D image by using the reference pattern or object; fusing the 3D ultrasound images of a sequence of real-time 3D ultrasound images; with the pre-acquired 3D image using data of the co-registration; and displaying fusion tomographic images, each including the corresponding real-time ultrasound image and the pre-acquired image. The registration between real-time 3D ultrasound images and the pre-acquired 3D image is performed continuously in the background by continuing to acquire the real-time 3D ultrasound images and to register them with the pre-acquired 3D images using the reference pattern or patterns or the object or objects. | 03-17-2016 |
20150276911 | Shimming method for correcting inhomogeinity of a static magnetic field generated by a magnet of a nuclear magnetic resonance machine - A shimming method for correcting inhomogeneity of a static magnetic field generated by a magnet of a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging machine includes: measuring the magnetic field at a plurality of points over a reference surface; generating a polynomial that solves Laplace's equation with boundary conditions given on the reference surface, the polynomial representing the magnetic field on the reference surface and having a plurality of harmonic terms, each associated with a coefficient; determining the coefficients from the field sampling values; defining a grid for positioning a plurality of correction elements and relating it to the field structure; and calculating the position and magnitude parameters of the correction elements, such that the correction elements affect the coefficients of the magnetic field to obtain the desired field characteristics, wherein the reference surface is a superquadric surface, such that the magnetic field is corrected in a volume delimited by the superquadric surface. | 10-01-2015 |
20150209002 | Method and apparatus for ultrasound image acquisition - Method for ultrasound image acquisition includes defining a fixed frame of reference, with an origin of coordinates within a transmitter of a tracking system; detecting position and orientation of a probe relative to the frame of reference with a probe sensor of the tracking system coupled to the probe; detecting position and orientation of a body relative to the frame of reference with a reference sensor of the tracking system coupled to the body; calculating position and orientation of the probe with respect to the body; acquiring a set of 2D images constituting a 3D by transmitting an ultrasonic beam into the body and receiving echographic signals with the probe; iterating for a predetermined number of 3D image acquisitions; generating a panoramic 3D image by combining the 2D images based on information of position and orientation of the probe relative to the body for each 2D image acquisition. | 07-30-2015 |
20140288415 | Imaging Method and Device for the Cardiovascular System - An imaging method and device for the cardiovascular system, the method including the steps of:
| 09-25-2014 |
20140028311 | Method of correcting inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field generated by the magnet of a mri machine and device for carrying out such method - The present invention relates to a method of correcting inhomogeneity of the static magnetic field generated by the magnet of a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging machine, wherein the magnet is flat and the magnetic field on one side of said magnet is corrected such that a volume is defined, which is bounded by a spherical cap surface, in which volume and along which surface the magnetic field is homogeneous, i.e. has field lines having equal parallel directions and equal intensities. | 01-30-2014 |
20130310678 | BIOMEDICAL IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD - A method of reconstructing an MRI or ultrasound biomedical image, including the steps of a) exciting a body under examination with radio-frequency (RF) or ultrasound (US) pulses; b) acquiring image data from the generated signals, wherein the signals are acquired by pseudo-random undersampling; c) reconstructing the image using a nonlinear iterative algorithm, with a data fidelity constraint term ensuring fidelity to the acquired image data; wherein two or more sets of image data are acquired from the generated signals, each data set being acquired in a different undersampling scheme and/or a different acquisition mode; each of the acquired image data set is multiplied by a correction matrix Δ, for adjusting the fidelity term; for each iteration of the nonlinear iterative algorithm the data sets are processed to generate a combination image faithful to the acquired data but not to the incoherent artifacts, thereby leading to suppression of the artifacts. | 11-21-2013 |
20130221963 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD AND DEVICE - Magnetic resonance imaging method and device, preferably using T2-weighted Fast Spin Echo (FSE) sequences, wherein a first set of magnetic resonance signals corresponding to predetermined phase-encoding gradients and at least one second set of received magnetic resonance signals, corresponding to further predetermined phase-encoding gradients, are acquired from the body under examination, using multi-echo sequences, such that echoes with the same echo index are assigned to different phase-encoding gradients, said first set and said at least one second set being entered into at least two corresponding k-space matrices, and the at least two k-space matrices being combined into a single k-space matrix from which an image is generated, wherein each k-space matrix is incompletely filled such that, for the same phase encoding gradients, one matrix contains the higher-intensity received signals, and at least another matrix contains no signal. | 08-29-2013 |
20130144158 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical. | 06-06-2013 |
20130064037 | Method and apparatus for ultrasound image acquisition - Apparatus for ultrasound image acquisition is integrated into the casing of an ultrasound probe that includes an array of electro-acoustic transducers, which transmit and receive ultrasound pulses. The array communicate with a processing unit, to which reception signals are fed, and are connected to a unit generating signals for exciting the transmission of ultrasound waves. In one aspect of the invention, at least the processing unit is fitted into the probe casing and is configured to convert the reception signals into an image, and to generate video signals for generating an image on a display unit. The transmission between the probe and a remote unit displaying and possibly storing the images as video signals may be operated wirelessly. | 03-14-2013 |
20120286785 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR CORRECTING MAGNETIC FIELD HOMOGENEITY - A Magnetic Resonance apparatus includes a 3D structure having a cavity for receiving a body under examination, a mechanism for generating a static magnetic field in the patient receiving cavity, a mechanism for generating variable magnetic fields in the cavity, an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic nuclear spin excitation pulses, an antenna for receiving the electromagnetic signals generated by nuclear spin relaxation, a plate for locating and fixing magnetic dipoles for fine correction of magnetic field homogeneity, and a compartment for the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate, the compartment being adapted to be opened for direct access to the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate from the outside. The compartment may be opened either by removal of an end plate of the magnetic field generating mechanism, or via a lateral slot for insertion and removal of the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate. | 11-15-2012 |
20120245454 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls. | 09-27-2012 |
20120223710 | Method of generating 2D or 3D maps of MRI T1 and T2 relaxation times - A method of generating 2D or 3D maps of MRI T | 09-06-2012 |
20120089027 | Method and apparatus for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information, particularly venous blood flow information - A method for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body, which are generated by an array of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in a predetermined order and design; receiving reflected pulses with an array of receiving electro-acoustic transducers, which generate receive signals upon stimulation of the reflected pulses, the succession of pulses transmitted to or received from the body being focused along one or more scan lines; generating a Doppler frequency shift signal resulting from the reflection of pulses transmitted by a blood flow into a vessel intersected by the scan line, in a point and along the scan line, or along a direction of propagation of a pulse; determining the direction of blood flow velocity from the average frequency value of Doppler shift frequencies; and displaying the direction of blood flow velocity by graphical and/or chromatic representation differentiating opposite directions. | 04-12-2012 |
20110257531 | METHOD OF MEASURING THE THICKNESS OF A BIOLOGICAL TISSUE BY ULTRASOUNDS AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SUCH METHOD - A method of measuring the thickness of a biological tissue by ultrasounds and a device carrying out such method. The method is implemented with an ultrasound probe that emits ultrasonic pulses within a body under examination and receives echoes generated from structures of the body under examination. The probe includes an array of two or more electro-acoustic transducers and, in combination, means for processing the reception signals and means for orienting one or more lines of sight, along which the emission of the pulses and/or the reception of the echoes is focused, according to different angles with respect to an axis perpendicular to the emitting surface of the probe. The thickness of the biological tissue is calculated by the time interval between the reception of the first echo and the reception of the second echo, which are relevant to the same ultrasonic pulse emitted along at least a line of sight oriented along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the biological tissue, which is defined by the iteration of measurements with the line of sight oriented at different angles and with comparisons between the measured intensity values, the orientation corresponding to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the biological tissue being the one showing the maximum intensity of the first echo. | 10-20-2011 |
20110208059 | Ultrasound probe - An ultrasound probe for diagnostic images includes a set or array of electroacoustic transducers generating an ultrasonic beam and defining at least one scan plane or a predetermined scan volume, and one or more layers matching acoustic impedance characteristics of the transducers with acoustic impedance characteristics of tissues under examiantion. The layers overlap the transducers, on the face emitting/receiving acoustic pulses. Acoustic properties of the material or materials constituting the one or more layers, the geometric shape of the layers, and/or the structure of the transducers cause the ultrasonic beam to be apodized and the profile of the ultrasonic beam in a plane perpendicular to the scan plane and parallel to the ultrasonic beam to be highly homogeneous. The emitted pulse has a greater intensity uniformity in the part of the ultrasonic beam closer to the scan plane and a predetermined lower intensity in side lobes of the ultrasonic beam. | 08-25-2011 |
20110130646 | PATIENT SUPPORT DEVICE, SUCH AS A PATIENT BED, TABLE OR CHAIR FOR USE WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUSES - A patient support device for use with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one receptacle for housing and/or removably coupling a coil adapted to receive signals from anatomic regions upon excitation thereof by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus, the at least one receptacle being arranged in an area of the patient support surface corresponding to a position of an anatomic region to be imaged. The receptacle is adapted for removable fastening of removably connectable bases of the receiver coil, and the base of each coil and its respective housing or coupling receptacle include complementary mechanisms for electrical connection to at least one dedicated electrical line such that the electrical connection is automatically effected when the base of each coil is fitted and/or mechanically fastened in a respective housing or coupling receptacle. | 06-02-2011 |
20110084695 | METHOD FOR MAKING A PERMANENT MAGNET PARTICULARLY FOR MRI SCANNERS AND A PERMANENT MAGNET, PARTICULARLY FOR MRI SCANNERS MADE BY SAID METHOD - Method for making magnets particularly for the use in MRI scanners, which magnets are three-dimensional and have a tubular wall made of magnetized material, with a closed or open annular shaped cross-section, the tubular wall being composed of individual elements made of magnetized material, the magnetization of each element made of magnetized material having a predetermined direction in the transverse section plane and said directions being determined such to generate a uniform static magnetic field in the cavity of the tubular wall. The invention provides the following steps:
| 04-14-2011 |
20110025332 | MRI APPARATUS - An MRI apparatus comprising a magnet structure which delimits a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, and which includes means for generating a magnetic field in said cavity, as well as means for causing the body under examination or the part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, a region being defined in the cavity, known as imaging volume, and means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The MRI apparatus also comprises an electronic processing unit with which the means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals are electrically connected; the cavity has an access opening for receiving a body under examination or part thereof. | 02-03-2011 |
20100301861 | MRI Apparatus - An MRI apparatus including a magnetic structure defining a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, a mechanism for generating a magnetic field inside the cavity, a mechanism for causing the body under examination or a part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and a mechanism for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The mechanism for generating the magnetic field includes one or more elements made of permanently magnetized material of the so-called superconducting bulk material type and, in combination therewith, a mechanism for keeping the magnetization condition of the superconducting bulk material which includes mechanisms for maintaining the temperature of the permanently magnetized material below the critical temperature thereof and for restoring the magnetization of the superconducting bulk material upon a complete or partial demagnetization. | 12-02-2010 |
20100055991 | MULTI-POLE CONNECTOR DEVICE - A multi-pole connector has a first movable connector member ( | 03-04-2010 |
20090310841 | APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF PATIENTS WITH LIMBS, PARTICULARLY LOWER LIMBS, UNDER NATURAL STRESS - An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of patients with limbs, particularly lower limbs, under natural stress, which apparatus includes a magnet structure having an open or closed annular shape, and a predetermined axial extension, which structure delimits a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient body, with at least two or three open sides, the open sides providing access to the cavity. The open or closed annular magnet structure being disposed with the axis of the open or closed annular shape oriented with at least one vertical directional component and devices being provided for vertical translation of the magnet structure or the patient relative to the magnet structure. | 12-17-2009 |
20090270735 | ELECTRONIC ARRAY PROBE FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGING - An electronic array probe for ultrasonic imaging includes an array of transmitting and/or receiving electroacoustic transducers arranged in concentric bands in which the transducers are tangent to one other in both radial and circumferential directions. In order to minimize the number of transducers required without compromising dynamic range, a transducer arrangement geometry is provided so that the number of transducers having the same focusing delay is minimal or null. | 10-29-2009 |
20080249396 | Method And Apparatus For Determining Indications Helping The Diagnosis Of Orthopedical Diseases - Apparatus for determining indications helping the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases comprising a section detecting and acquiring signals from a body under examination or from a part thereof wherein the detecting section is a unit detecting images by nuclear magnetic resonance and it is integrated in a section for processing acquired images as regards image data and/or resonance signals, which processing section defines, from image data and/or resonance signals, values of one or more different numerical parameters indicating the presence or absence of an orthopedic disease and/or a measure of the evolution condition of said orthopedic disease. | 10-09-2008 |
20080212407 | Surface Micromechanical Process For Manufacturing Micromachined Capacitive Ultra-Acoustic Transducers and Relevant Micromachined Capacitive Ultra-Acoustic Transducer - The invention concerns a manufacturing process, and the related micromachined capacitive ultra-acoustic transducer, that uses commercial silicon wafer | 09-04-2008 |
20080197845 | MAGNETIC STRUCTURE FOR MRI MACHINES AND MRI MACHINE PARTICULARLY FOR ORTHOPEDIC OF RHEUMATOLOGIC APPLICATIONS - Magnetic structure for MRI machines, which machine has a U-shaped or annular, that is O-shaped geometry having two opposite poles between which a magnetic field is generated and are borne at a predetermined distance one with respect to the other by a magnetic yoke having an inverted U shape or an annular one, that is an O shape, which poles generating the magnetic field and/or at least a part of which yoke delimit a cavity housing at least a part of the patient body, while inside the volume of said cavity a partial volume is generated wherein values of the magnetic field are such to guarantee the acquisition of MRI images having quality characteristics sufficient to be used like diagnostic images, so called imaging volume. | 08-21-2008 |