51 patents
Page 2 of 3
Utility
Thermoacoustic Transducer with Integrated Switch
21 Oct 21
A thermoacoustic transducer integrating at least one piezoelectric element having a first surface and a second surface, a potential electrode that is electrically connected to the second surface, a ground electrode that is electrically connected to the first surface, a switch electrically connected to both the potential electrode and the ground electrode, a timer configured to match a pulse emanating from a radio-frequency emitter, further wherein the potential electrode and the ground electrode are electrically connected through an impedance when the switch is in an active state, further wherein the potential electrode and the ground electrode are not electrically connected when the switch is in an inactive state; and a housing accommodating the at least one piezoelectric element, potential electrode, ground electrode, and switch.
Zackary Marc Mumm, Christopher Nelson Davis, Michael M. Thornton, Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 14 Apr 21
Utility
Method and system for monitoring tissue temperature
12 Oct 21
A thermoacoustic imaging system and method for monitoring tissue temperature within a region of interest, which has an object of interest and a reference that are separated by at least one boundary.
Jang Hwan Cho, Paul A. Picot, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 27 Dec 18
Utility
Acoustically Compatible Radio-Frequency Applicator Method and System
12 Aug 21
A method and system for optimizing RF energy delivery to a tissue ROI with a thermoacoustic system includes directing with a RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the tissue ROI having an object of interest and a reference separated by a boundary; detecting with a thermoacoustic transducer, a multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary in response to the RF energy pulses and processing the multi-polar acoustic signal to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; detecting with the thermoacoustic transducer, an artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary and processing it to determine a peak-to-peak amplitude; utilizing an electromagnetic model coupled with a model of patient anatomy to place dielectric or conducting materials near the thermoacoustic transducer or the RF applicator to optimize a signal-to-noise ratio of the multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at the boundary or minimize the artifact multi-polar thermoacoustic signal generated at a location other than the boundary; and directing with the RF applicator, RF energy pulses into the ROI for a thermoacoustic measurement and determine a parameter of the object of interest.
Amanda Margaret Barnes, Christopher Nelson Davis, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 12 Feb 20
Utility
Method and system for determining a parameter of a material of interest
20 Jul 21
A method for determining a parameter of a material of interest which includes: directing, using a radio frequency (RF) source, RF energy into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material, a known reference and a boundary between the material and the known reference; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy; and determining, by the one or more processors, a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor, wherein the transmitted power correction factor is based on an estimated thickness of the known reference and an attenuation coefficient of the known reference.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 3 Oct 19
Utility
Method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest
6 Jul 21
A method and system for estimating fractional fat content of an object of interest.
Christopher Nelson Davis, Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 24 Dec 18
Utility
Thermal ablation system and method with integrated thermoacoustic temperature measurement
6 Jul 21
A system for thermal ablation of tissue and temperature monitoring of said tissue is disclosed.
Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 18 Nov 20
Utility
Method and system for determining at least one parameter of interest of a material
29 Jun 21
A method for determining at least one parameter of interest of a material comprises directing, using a radio frequency (RF) applicator, one or more RF energy pulses into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising a material having a parameter of interest and at least one reference, the material and the reference separated by at least one boundary; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one multi-polar acoustic signal generated in the region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses; processing the at least one multi-polar acoustic signal to determine an electric field strength at the boundary; calculating a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the one or more RF energy pulses; and determining the at least one parameter of interest of the material based at least on the determined electric field strength and the VSWR.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 29 Aug 19
Utility
Thermoacoustic Method and System Configured to Interface with an Ultrasound System
10 Jun 21
A thermoacoustic system and method of use to receive an ultrasound system output from an ultrasound system, via an existing communication port on the ultrasound system.
Christopher Bull, Jeremy Gill, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 6 Dec 19
Utility
Systems and methods for thermoacoustic transducer optimization
4 May 21
A method and system optimize a thermoacoustic transducer functionality that is utilized in a thermoacoustic imaging system.
Dean Zahn Douthat, Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 19 Feb 19
Utility
Acoustically isolated thermoacoustic imaging probe and process of manufacture
4 May 21
A thermoacoustic probe with an electromagnetic (EM) energy applicator, a thermoacoustic transducer, and a housing containing the applicator and thermoacoustic transducer and enabling an EM exit window and a transducer front face to be held flush with respect to each other.
Jeremy Gill, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 12 Jan 21
Utility
Method and System for Determining a Parameter of a Material of Interest
8 Apr 21
A method for determining a parameter of a material of interest comprises: directing, using a radio frequency (RF) source, RF energy into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material, a known reference and a boundary between the material and the known reference; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy; and determining, by the one or more processors, a parameter of the material as a function of the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power correction factor.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 3 Oct 19
Utility
Method and System for Determining a Material Type of an Object of Interest
1 Apr 21
A method for determining a material type of an object of interest comprises: directing, using a radio frequency (RF) source, RF energy into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the object of interest, a known reference and a boundary between the object of interest and the known reference; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal generated in response to the RF energy; correlating, by one or more processors, the at least one thermoacoustic multi-polar signal to a transmitted power correction factor to generate a corrected thermoacoustic multi-polar signal; and determining, by the one or more processors, the material type of the object of interest as a function of the corrected thermoacoustic multi-polar signal and a transmitted power of the RF energy.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 1 Oct 19
Utility
Method and System to Simultaneously Perform Thermoacoustic and Ultrasound Imaging
18 Mar 21
A method and system for simultaneously performing ultrasound and thermoacoustic imaging includes directing RF energy with an RF emitter through a surface of the RF emitter and toward a region of interest within the object, wherein the region of interest has a material, a reference, and a boundary between the material and the reference, wherein the RF energy thermoacoustically induces an ultrasound signal at the surface of the RF emitter that travels through the object and reflects at the boundary; using the thermoacoustic system to receive a thermoacoustic multi-polar signal from a specific location on the boundary, wherein the thermoacoustic multi-polar signal is induced by the RF energy; receiving the reflected ultrasound signal; utilizing the thermoacoustic system and the reflected ultrasound signal to map the specific location within the object; and utilizing the thermoacoustic system and the thermoacoustic multi-polar signal to determine a parameter at the specific location.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 12 Sep 19
Utility
Method and System for Determining at Least One Parameter of Interest of a Material
4 Mar 21
A method for determining at least one parameter of interest of a material comprises directing, using a radio frequency (RF) applicator, one or more RF energy pulses into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising a material having a parameter of interest and at least one reference, the material and the reference separated by at least one boundary; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one multi-polar acoustic signal generated in the region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses; processing the at least one multi-polar acoustic signal to determine an electric field strength at the boundary; calculating a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the one or more RF energy pulses; and determining the at least one parameter of interest of the material based at least on the determined electric field strength and the VSWR.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 29 Aug 19
Utility
Method and System for Identifying a Material of Interest
11 Feb 21
A method for identifying a material of interest comprises directing, using a radio frequency (RF) applicator, one or more RF energy pulses into a region of interest, the region of interest comprising the material of interest and at least one reference that are separated by at least one boundary; detecting, using an acoustic receiver, at least one multi-polar acoustic signal generated in the region of interest in response to the RF energy pulses; processing the at least one multi-polar acoustic signal to determine an electric field strength at the boundary; and identifying the material of interest based at least on the determined electric field strength.
Jang Hwan Cho
Filed: 8 Aug 19
Utility
Systems and methods for imaging biological tissue structures
26 Jan 21
Combined transducer arrays for imaging features of tissue include a transducer array configured for transmit-receive ultrasound imaging, and a transducer array configured for receive-only thermoacoustic imaging.
Michael M. Thornton, Paul A. Picot
Filed: 14 May 15
Utility
Shielded ultrasound transducer and imaging system employing the same
12 Jan 21
An ultrasound transducer with at least one piezoelectric element configured to convert received acoustic signals into an electric potential, a shield connectable to ground and overlying the at least one piezoelectric element through which the acoustic signals pass before being received by the at least one piezoelectric element, the shield having acoustic conductivity and electrical attenuation characteristics that enable the acoustic signals to propagate therethrough while reducing a 100 volt per centimeter electric field to below a threshold level so that the piezoelectric element is exposed to a threshold electrical potential at least less than or equal to 10 μV, and a housing accommodating the at least one piezoelectric element and shield.
Michael M. Thornton, Stanley Emil Jelic
Filed: 12 Mar 18
Utility
Thermoacoustic Imaging Methods and Systems Utilizing Parallel Phased Array Transmission Elements
2 Dec 20
A method for providing an image of a subject by utilizing an array of transmission elements in a thermoacoustic imaging apparatus.
Christopher Nelson Davis, Paul A. Picot
Filed: 27 May 19
Utility
Method for Manufacturing a Radio Frequency Applicator
23 Sep 20
A method for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) applicator which includes covering a ceramic insert with a coating, wherein the ceramic insert has dimensions that substantially match an internal volume of an open-ended, hollow waveguide, and wherein the ceramic insert has a recess therein configured to accept a radio frequency emitter, heating the waveguide to a temperature that is above a melting point of the coating, placing the coated ceramic insert into the internal volume of the heated waveguide, wherein the internal volume is completely filled except for the recess, and cooling the waveguide, ceramic insert, and coating to a temperature below the melting point of the coating so that the coating solidifies and fills gaps between facing surfaces of the insert and the waveguide.
Christopher Nelson Davis, Charlton Chen, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 7 Jun 20
Utility
Systems and Methods for Thermoacoustic Transducer Optimization
19 Aug 20
A method and system optimize a thermoacoustic transducer functionality that is utilized in a thermoacoustic imaging system.
Dean Zahn Douthat, Jang Hwan Cho, Michael M. Thornton
Filed: 18 Feb 19