Helmuth F Fritz

US Patent:

7727153, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

Oct 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/975616

Inventors:

Helmuth Fritz - Yucaipa CA, US
Terry Fritz - Boise ID, US

Assignee:

SonoSite, Inc. - Bothell WA

International Classification:

A61B 5/06

US Classification:

600449, 600407, 600410, 600425, 600431, 600437, 600473, 600476, 382128, 382130, 382131, 382168, 382286

Abstract:

Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying various tissue structure aspects, such as boundaries of arterial walls, within an image, such as an ultrasound image. Various measurements may be made using information with respect to the identified aspects of tissue structure. For example, intima-media thickness measurements may be made. Additionally or alternatively, tissue structure aspects, such as plaque within an artery, may be characterized, such as by determining a density thereof. Various information, such as measurement datums, used in identification of aspects of tissue structure in one image may be stored and applied to subsequent images, such as images of a video sequence.

US Patent:

20030199762, Oct 23, 2003

Filed:

Apr 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/407682

Inventors:

Helmuth Fritz - Yucaipa CA, US
Terry Fritz - Boise ID, US

Assignee:

SonoMetric Health, LLC - Bountiful UT

International Classification:

A61B008/00
A61B008/14

US Classification:

600/437000, 600/454000

Abstract:

An apparatus, automated method technique and product for accurately determining the intima-media thickness of a blood vessel.

US Patent:

20050119555, Jun 2, 2005

Filed:

Oct 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/976147

Inventors:

Helmuth Fritz - Yucaipa CA, US
Terry Fritz - Boise ID, US

Assignee:

SonoSite, Inc. - Bothell WA

International Classification:

A61B005/05

US Classification:

600410000

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for determining the apparent intima-media thickness (IMT) of arteries through acquisition and analysis of ultrasound images comprising an array of pixel intensities. A datum, or datums, may be established across multiple columns of pixels bounding the portion of the image containing either the lumen/intima boundary, the media/adventitia boundary, or both. The datums may be approximate the shape of one more of the lumen, intima, media, and adventitia. Within a bounded portion of the image, a method may search for intensity gradients having characteristics indicating the gradients represent probable locations of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement is calculated based on the location of the lumen/intima and media/adventitia boundaries. An IMT measurement may be adjusted for sloping or tapering of an artery wall.