Butterfly Network has filed a patent for an apparatus that uses a smartphone or tablet to receive ultrasound data from an ultrasound device. The device then generates an ultrasound image and automatically determines the area of an anatomical structure using a statistical model. It also superimposes a transparent mask on the ultrasound image to indicate the area of the anatomical structure. GlobalData’s report on Butterfly Network gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Butterfly Network, Doppler ultrasound imaging was a key innovation area identified from patents. Butterfly Network's grant share as of September 2023 was 42%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Ultrasound imaging and automatic anatomical structure detection and marking
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230267605A1) describes an apparatus that utilizes a smartphone or tablet to enhance ultrasound imaging. The device is capable of receiving ultrasound data from an ultrasound device and generating an ultrasound image based on that data. It then automatically determines the area of an anatomical structure depicted in the ultrasound image using a statistical model trained from a variety of training ultrasound images. The apparatus superimposes a transparent mask on the ultrasound image to indicate the area of the anatomical structure.
The patent also describes the ability of the apparatus to determine the location of a specific point on the anatomical structure and display an indicator at that location on the ultrasound image. This indicator takes the form of an opening, allowing a subset of pixels corresponding to the anatomical structure to be viewable through the opening. Additionally, the apparatus can display a second indicator that indicates the closeness in distance between the location of the specific point and a position halfway across the horizontal dimension of the ultrasound image.
The anatomical structure primarily mentioned in the patent is the bladder. The transparent mask used in the apparatus is referred to as a segmentation mask, and it represents the probability that each pixel in the ultrasound image corresponds to a location within the anatomical structure or outside of it. The statistical model employed by the smartphone or tablet helps determine the segmentation mask and select pixels within the anatomical structure based on a threshold value.
Furthermore, the apparatus is capable of calculating the volume of the anatomical structure, providing additional functionality beyond image enhancement. The specific point on the anatomical structure, such as the centroid, can have predetermined mathematical characteristics that aid in its identification.
Overall, this patent presents an innovative approach to ultrasound imaging by utilizing a smartphone or tablet to automatically determine and enhance the depiction of anatomical structures. The apparatus offers features such as transparent masks, indicators, and volume calculations, which could potentially improve the accuracy and efficiency of ultrasound examinations.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies
