SIMON FUNG-KEE-FUNG, MD
Radiology at Elm And Carlton St, Buffalo, NY

2008028, Nov 20, 2008

Aug 30, 2007

11/899004

Elisa E. Konofagou - New York NY, US
Simon Fung-Kee-Fung - Buffalo NY, US
Shougang Wang - New York NY, US
Wei-Ning Lee - New York NY, US

A61B 8/00

382128, 600437

Systems and methods for composite elastography and wave imaging are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an imaging modality field of view, such as, for example, that of ultrasound, can be divided into N sectors, each having 1/Nth of a full field of view. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a temporal series of 2D or 3D ultrasound images for each of the N sectors can be acquired over a duration of one or more periods of a periodic signal. Substantially simultaneously, such a periodic signal can also be acquired, wherein each of said series of 2D ultrasound images for each sector can be triggered or gated using said periodic signal. For example, for ultrasound imaging of the heart, an ECG signal can function as such a periodic signal. The data from the various N sectors can be synchronized in time using the ECG signals, and the ultrasound signals from each of the N sectors combined to generate a series of composite ultrasound images at the frame rate of the individual sectors. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a composite image can be further processed to estimate displacement between consecutive frames, remove noise, accumulate displacement with time for an entire cardiac cycle, and derive strain in the cardiac muscle, vessel or any other organ or tissue under motion. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the derived strain data can be overlaid onto all or part of the composite ultrasound images, and one or more of such overlaid images can be displayed to a user.

2009022, Sep 3, 2009

Dec 8, 2006

12/096254

Elisa E. Konofagou - New York NY, US
Helen Lu - New York NY, US
Simon Fung-Kee-Fung - Buffalo NY, US
Daniel Ginat - New York NY, US
Jeff Spalazzi - Fair Lawn NY, US

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York - New York NY

A61B 8/14

600443

Methods for obtaining information about the mechanical behaviour of structures associated with mammalian joints and tendons are provided. Embodiments of such methods include creating deformation in a joint structure (such as ligaments and articular cartilage) or tendon of interest, using an ultrasound scanner and a single element or array of elements to acquire sequences of ultrasound data of the joint structure or tendon, estimating one, two or three components of the resulting displacement and strain between a reference frame of ultrasound data and successive frames of ultrasound data, and using a cross-correlation algorithm to estimate the displacement and strain components. This information may be used to inform the design of tissue grafts. Tissue grafts produced using this information are also provided. The same method can be used in situ together with noninvasive or invasive procedures.

2013006, Mar 14, 2013

Jan 18, 2012

13/353148

Elisa E. Konofagou - New York NY, US
Simon Fung-Kee-Fung - Buffalo NY, US
Shougang Wang - New York NY, US
Wei-Ning Lee - New York NY, US

A61B 8/08

600450

Systems and methods for composite myocardial elastography are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an imaging modality field of view, such as, for example, that of ultrasound, can be divided into N sectors, each having 1/Nth of a full field of view. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a temporal series of 2D ultrasound images for each of the N sectors can be acquired over a duration of one or more periods of a periodic signal. Substantially simultaneously, such a periodic signal can also be acquired, wherein each of said series of 2D ultrasound images for each sector can be triggered using said periodic signal. For example, for ultrasound imaging of the heart, an ECG signal can function as such a periodic signal. The data from the various N sectors can be synchronized in time using the ECG signals, and the ultrasound signals from each of the N sectors combined to generate a series of composite ultrasound images at the frame rate of the individual sectors. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a composite image can be further processed to estimate displacement between consecutive frames, remove noise, accumulate displacement with time for an entire cardiac cycle, and derive strain in the cardiac muscle, vessel or any other organ or tissue under motion. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the derived strain data can be overlaid onto all or part of the composite ultrasound images, and one or more of such overlaid images can be displayed to a user.