Emboli detection methods to identify mechanisms of brain injury in susceptible adults and children
Inventors
Heldt, Thomas • Imaduddin, Syed Muhammad • Larovere, Kerri • Kussman, Barry
Assignees
Boston Childrens Hospital • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12322497-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Techniques for detecting embolic information for a patient. The techniques may include obtaining data identifying an ultrasound signal associated with the patient, identifying a set of candidate embolic regions in the data, identifying a set of embolic regions from among the set of candidate embolic regions, and outputting embolic information corresponding to the set of embolic regions.
Core Innovation
The invention obtains data from an ultrasound signal produced by ultrasound measurements performed on a patient and computes an embolus-to-blood ratio. Portions of the data are identified where the embolus-to-blood ratio is below a detection threshold value, thereby determining background regions of the data. From these background regions, a background signal representative of blood flow in the patient is determined, and the background signal oscillates over time.
Using the oscillating background signal, the system identifies candidate embolic regions in the data by determining segments where the embolus-to-blood ratio is above that of the background signal by at least the threshold detection value. The candidate embolic regions are then analyzed to generate embolic information. The embolic information is output based on the analysis of the candidate embolic regions.
In certain implementations, the background signal oscillation is derived from background regions with an adaptive baseline blood-flow model, enabling selection of segments when the embolus-to-blood ratio exceeds a detection threshold. Candidate embolic regions correspond to high intensity transient signals and are further segmented and analyzed to generate embolic information for detection outputs.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00008, and clm-00009). Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage is centered on computing an embolus-to-blood ratio from ultrasound data, deriving an oscillating background signal from segments below a detection threshold, and identifying candidate embolic regions where the ratio exceeds the oscillating background by at least the detection threshold, followed by analyzing the candidate regions to generate and output embolic information.
Thresholded embolus-to-blood ratio for ultrasound data
The system/method obtains data from an ultrasound signal produced by ultrasound measurements performed on a patient; computes an embolus-to-blood ratio for the data; and identifies at least one segment of the data as having an embolus-to-blood ratio as being below a detection threshold value, thereby determining at least one background region of the data.
Oscillating background signal representative of blood flow
From the at least one background region of the data, a background signal representative of blood flow in the patient is determined, the background signal oscillating over time.
Candidate embolic region identification above oscillating background
Using the background signal, at least one candidate embolic region in the data is identified by determining at least one segment of the data as having an embolus-to-blood ratio as being above that of the background signal by at least the threshold detection value.
Analyze candidate embolic regions to generate embolic information
The at least one candidate embolic region is analyzed to generate embolic information.
Output embolic information
The embolic information is outputting the embolic information.
Across the independent claims, the core claim structure provides a consistent inventive workflow: compute an embolus-to-blood ratio from ultrasound measurements, estimate an oscillating background signal from segments below a detection threshold, select candidate embolic regions where the ratio exceeds the oscillating background by at least the threshold, and analyze and output embolic information.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
Interested in licensing this patent?