# US 10,762,628 B2 · Statistical mapping in an optoacoustic imaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,762,628 B2 - Document ID: US10762628B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/412,960 - Filed: 2019-05-15 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2020-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-09 - Assignees: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. - Applicants: Seno Medical Instruments, Inc. - Inventors: Jason Zalev; Bryan Clingman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10762628B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - A61B 5/004: {adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062)} - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1495: Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes - A61B 5/4312: {Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis (optical mammography A61B5/0091)} - A61B 5/7207: {of noise induced by motion artifacts} - A61B 5/7225: {Details of analogue processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation (input circuits for detecting, measuring, or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/30; specific diagnostic methods using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)} - A61B 5/725: {using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters (specific diagnostics methods using using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)} - A61B 5/7257: {using Fourier transforms} - A61B 5/726: {using Wavelet transforms} - A61B 8/0825: {for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography} - A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue} - A61B 8/44: {Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device} - A61B 8/4416: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions} - A61B 8/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest} - A61B 8/5223: {for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data (for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012)} - A61B 8/5261: {combining images from different diagnostic modalities, e.g. ultrasound and X-ray} - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/0073: {by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections (A61B5/0066 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0091: {for mammography} - A61B 5/7203: {for noise prevention, reduction or removal} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Electromagnetic energy is deposited into a volume, an acoustic return signal from energy deposited in the volume is measured, and a parametric map that estimates values of at least one parameter as spatially represented in the volume is computed. A reference level of a region of interest is determined, and upper and lower color map limits are specified, with at least one of them being determined in relation to the reference level. The parametric map is then rendered in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the color map limits. Two wavelengths of energy can be applied to the volume, and the parametric map computation can be adapted by applying an implicit or explicit model of, or theoretical basis for, distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume pertaining to the two wavelengths. The actual electromagnetic energy fluence caused by each wavelength has a propensity, due to variability within the volume, to differ from the modeled or theoretical electromagnetic energy fluence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to produce a qualitative image, comprising: depositing electromagnetic energy into the volume using one or more energy sources to deposit at least two wavelengths of electromagnetic energy into the volume so as to provide a source of molecular contrast for a parametric map; measuring acoustic return signals from energy deposited in the volume; computing a parametric map that estimates values of at least one parameter as spatially represented in the volume; producing a mapping configuration to adjust for effects resulting from at least some of a variability in a spatial profile of the energy deposited by: i) determining at least one reference level within at least one region of interest of the parametric map; and ii) specifying a first color map limit and a second color map limit, at least one of the first color map limit or the second color map limit being determined in relation to the at least one reference level; and, rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the first and second color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between i) actual electromagnetic energy fluence and ii) modeled or theoretical electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background material has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the at least one region of interest based on a user input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a first of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a second of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background tissue has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between an actual and modeled electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 20 A method to produce a qualitative image, comprising: depositing electromagnetic energy into the volume using one or more energy sources to deposit at least two wavelengths of electromagnetic energy into the volume so as to provide a source of molecular contrast for a parametric map; measuring acoustic return signals from energy deposited in the volume; computing a parametric map that estimates values of at least one parameter as spatially represented in the volume; producing a mapping configuration to adjust for effects resulting from at least some of a variability in a spatial profile of the energy deposited by: i) determining at least one reference level within at least one region of interest of the parametric map; and ii) specifying a first color map limit and a second color map limit, at least one of the first color map limit or the second color map limit being determined in relation to the at least one reference level; and, rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the first and second color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background tissue has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between i) actual electromagnetic energy fluence and ii) modeled or theoretical electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background material has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising defining the at least one region of interest based on a user input. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a first of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a second of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between an actual and modeled electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 39 A method to produce a qualitative image, comprising: depositing electromagnetic energy into the volume using one or more energy sources to deposit at least two wavelengths of electromagnetic energy into the volume so as to provide a source of molecular contrast for a parametric map; measuring acoustic return signals from energy deposited in the volume; computing a parametric map that estimates values of at least one parameter as spatially represented in the volume; producing a mapping configuration to adjust for effects resulting from at least some of a variability in a spatial profile of the energy deposited by: i) determining at least one reference level within at least one region of interest of the parametric map; and ii) specifying a first color map limit and a second color map limit, at least one of the first color map limit or the second color map limit being determined in relation to the at least one reference level; and, rendering the parametric map in the palette of a color map by mapping the estimated values of the parametric map onto the color map according to the first and second color map limits of the mapping configuration to produce a rendered parametric map, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between an actual and modeled electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the variability in the spatial profile represents a variability between i) the actual electromagnetic energy fluence and ii) a theoretical electromagnetic energy fluence across the at least one region of interest. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background material has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, further comprising defining the at least one region of interest based on a user input. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a first of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the acoustic return signals for a second of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 48 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths. ### Claim 49 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 50 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one reference level is offset by an offset value from background tissue within the at least one region of interest, where in the background tissue has a known level of oxygenation. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, wherein the parametric map is a representation of at least one of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin or a total optoacoustic return signal intensity. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising masking the parametric map with a transparency and co-registering the rendered map with an ultrasound image. ### Claim 53 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, wherein the at least one reference level is at least one of a level of oxygenation or a level of hemoglobin. ### Claim 54 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the depositing further comprises: first depositing the electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength at a first point in time, followed by a first measuring of first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength; and second depositing the electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength at a second point in time, followed by a second measuring of second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength, the first depositing and first measuring occurring before the second depositing and second measuring. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The method of claim 54, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises computing a first spatial representation of the volume based on the first acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the first wavelength. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, wherein the computing the parametric map comprises a second spatial representation of the volume based on the second acoustic return signals associated with the energy deposited having the second wavelength. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The method of claim 56, wherein the computing the parametric map further comprises estimating a distribution of electromagnetic energy fluence within the volume based on the energy deposited having at least one of the at least two electromagnetic energy wavelengths.