Patent US5906578A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5906578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for probe positioning in transesophageal echocardiography
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1997-06-18
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Granted: 1999-05-25
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Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of optimally positioning an imaging device comprising the steps of storing a reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired view with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with the reference image; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Inventors
- 👤 Govinda N. Rajan
- 👤 Ravi Subramanian
- 👤 Valavanur A. Subramanian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00004; A61B1/00009; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/52; A61B8/5215; A61B8/5223; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; G; G16; G16H; G16H50/00; G16H50/30; A61M2025/0166; A61M25/0116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of obtaining a desired image of a patient with an imaging device, comprising: positioning the imaging device; continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; periodically comparing the acquired view with the desired image using an automatic, not manual, technique; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the acquired view is not substantially similar to the desired image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of obtaining a desired image of a patient with an imaging device, comprising: positioning the imaging device; continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; periodically comparing the acquired view with the desired image using an automatic, not manual, technique; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the acquired view is not substantially similar to the desired image.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of optimally positioning a probe during transesophageal cardiography, comprising: storing a reference image; positioning a probe within a patient's esophagus; continuously obtaining an acquired view of the patient's heart with the probe, wherein the acquired view comprises a video image; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with the reference image; and periodically adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of optimally positioning a probe during transesophageal cardiography, comprising: storing a reference image; positioning a probe within a patient's esophagus; continuously obtaining an acquired view of the patient's heart with the probe, wherein the acquired view comprises a video image; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with the reference image; and periodically adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device, comprising: obtaining a database of reference images taken from a plurality of patients with a probe, wherein the database is saved in an artificial intelligence module; continuously obtaining an acquired view of a patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one reference image from the database; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device, comprising: obtaining a database of reference images taken from a plurality of patients with a probe, wherein the database is saved in an artificial intelligence module; continuously obtaining an acquired view of a patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one reference image from the database; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a neural network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a rule based expert system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the artificial module comprises a fuzzy logic expert system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the database includes data regarding the approximate position of the probe for obtaining at least one of the reference images.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using neural network techniques; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using neural network techniques; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device to obtain a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a rule based expert system; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device to obtain a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a rule based expert system; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of a patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a fuzzy logic expert system; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: storing at least one reference image; continuously obtaining an acquired image comprising a video image of a patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with at least one stored reference image using a fuzzy logic expert system; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: sequentially storing a plurality of one reference images; continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with alternating stored reference images using an automatic, not manual, technique; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of optimally positioning an imaging device for obtaining a desired image of a patient, comprising: sequentially storing a plurality of one reference images; continuously obtaining an acquired view comprising a video image of the patient with the imaging device; determining whether the imaging device is in an optimal position by periodically comparing the acquired image with alternating stored reference images using an automatic, not manual, technique; and adjusting the position of the imaging device if the imaging device is not in an optimal position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-24 | 2002-11-23 | 2003-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-24 | 2006-11-23 | 2007-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-24 | 2010-11-23 | 2011-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |