Robert L Levine

US Patent:

6544181, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Dec 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/467165

Inventors:

Thomas Buck - Cambridge MA
Robert A. Levine - Brookline MA
Ronald A. Mucci - Warwick RI

Assignee:

The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA
Agilent Technologies - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

A61B 802

US Classification:

600455, 600453, 600454, 600456, 7386125

Abstract:

Techniques are provided for obtaining selected instantaneous area measurements for a dynamic orifice through which blood is flowing in at least one direction, for obtaining instantaneous flow rates of blood passing through such a dynamic orifice and for obtaining flow volume for blood passing through a dynamic orifice. All of these techniques involve ensonifying a thin sample volume of blood flow exiting at the orifice, which volume is in a region of flow which is substantially laminar, such region normally being the vena contracta for the orifice, with an ultrasonic pulsed Doppler signal, receiving backscattered signal from blood within the sample volume and forming a power-velocity spectrum from the received backscattered signal. Techniques are disclosed for assuring that only laminar flow is looked at in forming the power-velocity spectrum. To obtain instantaneous area measurements, the power integral of laminar flow from the spectrum is formed, this power integral being proportional to an instantaneous cross-sectional area of the orifice.

US Patent:

6909815, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

Jan 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/356060

Inventors:

Lawrence S. Bernstein - Lexington MA, US
Steven M. Adler-Golden - Newtonville MA, US
Timothy C. Perkins - Brighton MA, US
Alexander Berk - Canton MA, US
Robert Y. Levine - Bedford MA, US

Assignee:

Spectral Sciences, Inc. - Burlington MA

International Classification:

G06K009/40

US Classification:

382274

Abstract:

A method of automatically compensating a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image for atmospheric effects, comprising resolving a plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels from the image, determining a spectral baseline from the spectrally-diverse pixels, determining a statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels, normalizing the statistical spectral deviation by applying a scale factor, and compensating image pixels with both the spectral baseline and the normalized spectral deviation. Another embodiment features a method of automatically determining a measure of atmospheric aerosol optical properties using a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image, comprising resolving a plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels from the image, determining a statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels, correcting the statistical spectral deviation for non-aerosol transmittance losses, and deriving from the statistical spectral deviation one or more wavelength-dependent aerosol optical depths. A final embodiment features a method of automatically determining a measure of atmospheric gaseous optical properties using a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image, comprising resolving a plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels from the image, determining a statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels, and deriving from the statistical spectral deviation wavelength-dependent gaseous optical depths.

US Patent:

7046859, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Apr 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/100670

Inventors:

Lawrence S. Bernstein - Lexington MA, US
Steven M. Adler-Golden - Newtonville MA, US
Timothy C. Perkins - Brighton MA, US
Alexander Berk - Canton MA, US
Robert Y. Levine - Bedford MA, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/40

US Classification:

382274, 702 2

Abstract:

A method of automatically determining a measure of atmospheric aerosol optical properties using a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image. A plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels are resolved from the image. A statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels is determined, and then corrected for non-aerosol transmittance losses. One or more wavelength-dependent aerosol optical depths are derived from the statistical spectral deviation. Wavelength-dependent gaseous optical depths can be derived from the statistical spectral deviation.

US Patent:

7559936, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Aug 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/640974

Inventors:

Robert A. Levine - Brookline MA, US

Assignee:

The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61B 17/10
A61B 17/08

US Classification:

606139, 606213

Abstract:

Novel apparatus and minimally invasive methods to treat The present invention provides methods and devices for grasping, stabilizing and fastening of cardiac valve leaflets to treat atrioventricular valve regurgitation, particularly mitral valve regurgitation, in the context of prolapse and/or flail mitral valve. Independent leaflet grasping elements provide the ability to reposition the leaflets for fastening and enough stability to prevent leaflet movement during fastening.

US Patent:

7955247, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Jun 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/519585

Inventors:

Robert A. Levine - Brookline MA, US
Judy W. Hung - Newtonville MA, US
J. Luis Guerrero - Norton MA, US
Gus J. Vlahakes - Weston MA, US

Assignee:

The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61N 1/362

US Classification:

600 16, 623 31

Abstract:

Methods of and devices for restoring the normal geometry of a heart, including but not limited to the structures supporting the atrioventricular valves. The techniques and devices described herein operate on the principle of displacement, both active and passive, to reverse cardiac remodeling and limit ischemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation.

US Patent:

8292884, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Aug 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/523096

Inventors:

Robert A. Levine - Brookline MA, US
Emmanuel Messas - Paris, FR

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606 41, 606 42, 606 52

Abstract:

Novel apparatus and minimally invasive methods to treat atrioventricular valve regurgitation that is a result of tethering of chordae attaching atrioventricular valve leaflets to muscles of the heart, such as papillary muscles and muscles in the heart wall, thereby restricting the closure of the leaflets. Catheter embodiments for delivering and positioning chordal severing and elongating instruments are described.

US Patent:

20030109785, Jun 12, 2003

Filed:

Nov 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/303252

Inventors:

Thomas Buck - Cambridge MA, US
Robert Levine - Brookline MA, US
Ronald Mucci - Westwood MA, US

Assignee:

The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA

International Classification:

A61B008/00
A61B008/14

US Classification:

600/437000, 600/465000

Abstract:

Techniques are provided for obtaining selected instantaneous area measurements for a dynamic orifice through which blood is flowing in at least one direction, for obtaining instantaneous flow rates of blood passing through such a dynamic orifice and for obtaining flow volume for blood passing through a dynamic orifice. All of these techniques involve ensonifying a thin sample volume of blood flow exiting at the orifice, which volume is in a region of flow which is substantially laminar, such region normally being the vena contracta for the orifice, with an ultrasonic pulsed Doppler signal, receiving backscattered signal from blood within the sample volume and forming a power-velocity spectrum from the received backscattered signal. Techniques are disclosed for assuring that only laminar flow is looked at in forming the power-velocity spectrum. To obtain instantaneous area measurements, the power integral of laminar flow from the spectrum is formed, this power integral being proportional to an instantaneous cross-sectional area of the orifice. For instantaneous flow rates, the instantaneous power-velocity integral is formed from the laminar flow of the spectrum, while flow volume is obtained from the timed integral of the instantaneous flow rate.